Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1887
Complete Left, 28th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 1st June, 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
HENRY PATTMAN TRUEMAN and JOHN GEORGE NEW of 78 Parade, Birmingham, in
the county of Warwick, Engineers and Machinists do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to he as follows:-
Our present invention of improvements in Platen Printing Machines consists in the
first place of a system of links whereby a variable movement of the platen is produced
so as to cause such a pause, or slow movement as would produce an apparent long
pause while the sheets are being fed into the machine, and again a similar slow move-
ment producing a shorter pause or an apparent shorter pause when the sheet is being
pressed upon the types.
In the second place our improvement consists of a link motion in combination with
a frame carrying grippers adapted to feed sheets and remove them from the machine.
In carrying out the first part of our invention we employ a revolving disc or gear
wheel such as is common to platen printing machines. Pivotted at a suitable distance
is a lever whose free end is adjusted to approach and recede from the centre of the
gear wheel. The gear wheel carries a connecting rod on a crank pin fixed in its face
and the other end of the connecting rod is attached to the free end of the aforesaid
lever. This lever is or may be formed as a bell-crank when it is desired to convey its
motion through certain angles. The motion of this bell crank or lever is conveyed to
the rollers and the platen by other moving parts or connecting rods suitably arranged.
The effect of the connecting rod attached to the crank pin on the disc gear is to swing
the free end of the bell crank or lever to and fro from the centre of the gear and by
arranging the length of the said connecting rod so as to make the in stroke of the free
end of the bell crank or lever, at or near the inner end of its stroke, coincide more or
less nearly with the centre of the disc gear, a greater or less apparent pause is
produced in the motion of the bell crank or lever during and at the end of its inward
stroke. The various parts of the machine connected to the aforesaid bell crank or
lever partake of the variable motion produced by the arrangement herein before
described.

page_text: The second part of our invention relates more particularly to such printing machines
whose platen movement consists of a pivotted or hinge joint and consists of a pair of
levers centred on the radius of a circle struck from the top edge of the platen when
at its furthest distance from the type. These levers are furnished with a bar carrying
grippers which take hold of the sheets and carry them down the platen into position
for printing and release the same when the impression has been made. This pair of
levers can be adjusted at any point along the radius described from the platen edge
and are thus able to carry the various size sheets into the position required on the
platen. The usual arrangements for supplying and distributing the ink are employed
and do not form part of our present invention.

page_text: We, HENRY PATTMAN TRUEMAN and JOHN GEORGE NEW of 78 Parade Birmingham
in the county of Warwick Engineers and Machinists do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to improvements in Platen Printing Machines and consists in
the first place of a system of link work whereby a variable movement of the platen is
produced, causing a slow movement or apparent long pause while the sheet is being
fed on to the platen, and a similar slow movement or an apparent short pause when
the sheet is being pressed upon the types.
In the second place our improvements consist of a link motion in combination with
a frame carrying grippers, adapted to automatically feeding a sheet on to, and
removing the same from, the platen of the machine. Our improvements are clearly
shewn in the accompanying sheet of drawings, of which like parts are marked with
similar letters of reference.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a printing machine shewing our system of linkwork
applied directly to the impression shaft of the machine.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a printing machine shewing our system of linkwork
applied to a bell crank and thence to the impression shaft of the machine.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the upper part of a printing machine shewing the
levers and grippers for feeding and removing the sheets to be printed.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same parts as shewn in Fig. 3.
In Figs. 1 & 2, a is the main gear of the machine carrying at a suitable distance
from its centre, the crank pin b, one end of the link d is connected to the crank pin,
and the other end c¹ of the link d is attached to the rocking lever e. In Fig. 1 this
rocking lever e is keyed directly upon the impression shaft as shewn. In Fig. 2
the rocking lever e takes the form of a bell crank and the motion of the bell crank is
communicated to the shaft by a connecting rod marked i in the drawings. The
length of the link d and the rocking lever e are so proportioned that during a con-
siderable portion of the circle described by the crank pin b the axis of revolution of the
main gear a, and the end c¹ of the link d will nearly coincide as shewn at g. Fig. 2.
The operation of the parts is as follows. The gear a Fig. 2, revolving in the direction
of the arrow carries with it the end c¹ of link d on the crank pin b, but the end c¹¹ of
the link being nearly coincident with the centre of the gear a, conveys little motion to
the rocking lever e for about one fourth to one half of an entire revolution.
result is that the parts connected to the lever e are in a state of comparative rest and
the impression rods and platen of the machine partake of this rest or pause, which
thus allows time for the sheets to be fed into the machine. The opposite remaining
portion of the revolution of the gear a will accelerate the speed of the rocking lever e
and the parts connected therewith, so as to rapidly take the sheet to the types and
The

page_text: return to the position of comparative rest. A pause or dwell is also caused at the
moment of impressing the sheet upon the types by the action of the link d and the
impression levers, which all pass their dead centres at the same moment.
In Figs. 3 & 4n is a frame carrying grippers o which frame can slide up and down
on the ways . At the lower end of the frame n joint pins m are provided with eyes
in the ends of the links k. k. These links k. k. are pivotted at 1. 1. q. r. s. are trip
pieces which are adjusted to engage with and open the grippers as the frame n slides
up and down on the ways v.
The ends of the links k. k. can also be adjusted along
the slots . . which causes the frame and grippers to stand at any desired place on
the platen during the impression and to return to the top edge of the platen when
farthest away from the type and in position for feeding. It is essential that the radius
of the curves, t. u. should equal the length of the levers k. k. Any centre may be
selected but we prefer to strike this radius from the top edge of the platen as here
described and illustrated. The operation of the parts is as follows: A sheet is laid on
the feed board w of the machine to a definite gauge or mark, as the platen opens
away from the type, the grippers actuated by the links k. k. move up the face of the
platen, and on reaching the top are opened by the trips, as the platen closes, the
grippers take hold of the sheet and the frame carries the sheet down the face of
the platen, the top edge of the sheet being seized by the top set of grippers. After
the impression has been made the sheet is carried to the position shewn at p Fig. 3
where the trips opens the top grippers and delivers the sheet while the bottom grippers o
are in position to take the next sheet from the feed board.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1st. The use in a printing machine of a link d in combination with a revolving
crank and a rocking lever so proportioned that a variable movement shall be obtained,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
2nd. In a printing machine with a hinged or rocking platen the arrangement of
links contrived to run up and down on the face of the platen, substantially as herein.
described and illustrated.
3rd. In a printing machine with a hinged or rocking platen, the combination of the
links . . with a frame n. n. carrying grippers and tripping mechanism, substantially,
as and for the purpose described.
Dotal this Twenty cosouth day of Anmil 1000