IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Pattman Trueman and John George New, both
of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Machinists, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES."
Sealed the 4th May 1880, and dated the 8th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Pattman Trueman
and John George New at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
8th November 1879.
HENRY PATTMAN TRUEMAN and JOHN GEORGE NEW, both of Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Machinists. IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES,"
"
The Invention consists in the first place of a novel arrangement of mechanical
contrivance whereby the entire machine is operated from the main shaft without
the intervention of gears or the employment of cams. The whole is adapted to be
driven by a treadle or operated by means of a belt or strap connected with a prime
mover, such as a gas or steam engine.
The following is a description of the means employed in carrying out our
Invention:
Between the sides or frame work of the machine is mounted a D cylinder or
drum having about one fourth of its circumference left flat for the reception of a
forme of type in its chase, and this flat surface forms the bed of the machine.
Thro' the centre of the said D cylinder is passed the main shaft; one end of this
shaft takes bearings in one side of the frame work and the other end in a sleeve
or boss formed on one end of the cylinder, the sleeve resting in the other side of
the frame work.
The main shaft, though supporting the cylinder between the frames, is allowed
to revolve freely within the bearings within the frame, and upon the main shaft is
keyed the roller gate which revolves with the shaft carrying the inking rollers
across the circular portion of the D cylinder which forms the ink tube, and also
across the type fixed upon the flat part of the same. The rollers are pressed
inwardly by means of springs. When the press is at work the flat type bed is
maintained rigidly vertical by means of a lever keyed upon the sleeve of the
cylinder, and which lever is also firmly connected with the frame work of the press.
11

page_text: The platen is carried on an axis mounted in sliding blocks upon ways formed in
the framing in such a manner as to cause the platen to advance and recede from the
type in parrallisim with the bed of the press for about one inch; the ways then
cause the platen to turn on its axis so as to enable the operator to remove the
printed sheet and to supply another for the succeeding impression. The platen is
caused to operate as described by two jointed levers, one end of each being con-
nected to the girder carrying the platen and the othe ends to crank pins projecting
from the face of two wheels keyed upon either end of the main shaft and outside
the framing of the machine. The jointed levers are arranged so as to produce a
variable motion to give a rest to the platen while the operator is laying the sheets
to be printed.
.
Ink is supplied to the cylindrical surface by means of an ink duct & a novel
distributing roller formed radial or spiral grooves upon its surface so as to
thoroughly spread the ink without endway motion. The flat part of the cylinder
may be moved into a horizontal position by means of the lever keyed upon the
sleeve so as to enable the operator to correct formes without removal from the
press. The sheets are held on the platen by frisket arms which are operated by a
pin on the inside of the frame work of the machine; the frisket arms may be laid
back on the platen for easy adjustment. The foregoing arrangement provides a
printing machine of great strength which, from its fewness of parts and absence
of cams, is easily operated at great speed without fear of accident or effecting its
durability.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Pattman Trueman and John George New in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 7th May 1880.
HENRY PATTMAN TRUEMAN and JOHN GEORGE NEw, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Machinists. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES."
The Invention consists in the first place of a novel arrangement of mechanical
contrivances whereby the entire machine is operated from the main shaft without
the intervention of gears or the employment of cams. The whole is adapted to be
driven by a treadle or operated by means of a belt or strap connected with a prime
mover, such as a gas or steam engine.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a printing machine
constructed according to our improvements; Figure 2 is a front elevation; and
Figure 3, a sectional diagram.
The following is a description of the means employed in carrying out our
Invention:-
Between the sides or framework A, A, of the machine is mounted a D cylinder
or drum B having about one fourth of its circumference left flat for the reception
of a form of type in its chase.
This flat surface C, Figure 3, forms the bed of the machine.
Through the centre of the cylinder B is passed the main shaft D; one end of this

page_text: shaft takes bearing in one side of the frame work A and the other end in a sleeve
or boss formed on one end of the cylinder, the sleeve resting in the other side of.
the frame work A. The main shaft D, though supporting the cylinder between the
frames A, A, is allowed to revolve freely within its bearings. Between the frames
A, A, and the ends of the cylinder (B) are fixed the roller gates E. One of these
gates or frames E is keyed to the shaft D and the other is allowed to revolve freely
on the sleeve of the cylinder B, connection between the keyed gate and the free
one being made by suitable stays or rods.
The roller gates E carry the inking and distributing rollers around the circum-
ference of the cylinder and also across the type on the bed C. The requisite
extension and retraction of the rollers in passing round the cylinder is provided for
by springs F.
When the press is at work the bed C is maintained rigidly vertical by means of
the lever G keyed upon the sleeve of the cylinder B. The lever G is also firmly
connected with the frame work of the press. The platen H is mounted on an axis
carried in sliding blocks which run in grooves I formed in the frames A, A.
The grooves
I cause the platen to advance to the impression in perfect parallelism,
and also turn the platen back to receive the sheets to be printed.
In order to operate the platen as described and also to give a pause or rest to the
platen for feeding the sheets, we make the side levers or draw bars J in two parts
jointed at K.
The throw of the cranks L, Figure 1, is also increased more than
would be necessary if the levers J were not jointed.
This increased motion is employed in turning the platen over by means of the
joint and thus produce the exact motions required without resorting to cams.
The draw bars J are not connected to the axis of the platen as is usual in such
machines, but by means of the links K are made to take hold of a shaft M, which
shaft sustains the force of the impression.
To provide for ready adjustment of pressure on the form the shaft M is formed
with eccentric ends, and is turned on its axis to reduce or increase the pressure by
the lever N and adjusting screw N'.
The sheets are held on the platen by frisket arms O and may be operated by a
pin on the framework, but we prefer to use the simple lever P which, forming part
of a parallel motion indicated at a, b, c, d, Figure 3, maintains the frisket arms O
constantly vertical. For convenience of adjustment one end of the lever P is
connected by a slotted joint or gab so that the joint may be disconnected and the
arms O allowed to rest on the platen H in any position.
The bed C may be moved into a horizontal position by means of the lever G, as
shewn in dotted lines by Figure 3.
Ink is supplied to the cylinder B by means of the large roller 5, Figure 3; the
smaller rollers 1, 2, 3, 4, take ink from the cylinder B and deposit it upon the
form on the bed C.
The roller 5 is itself supplied with ink by being lifted from the cylinder by a
raised pathway when opposite the endless apron Q, which apron takes ink from the
duct or roller R. The roller 5, Figure 4, is formed with a spiral upon its surface so
as to lay the ink upon the cylinder B in diagonal lines, which said diagonal lines
are immediately recrossed by the rollers 1, 2, 3, 4, travelling in right lines around
the cylinder. We thus induce perfect distribution of the ink upon the cylinder.
The quantity of ink may be adjusted to the work in hand by four methods.
First. The apron Q may be advanced nearer to the cylinder B by means of a
screw which slides the apron Q and the roller R upon their frame work, and thus
cause the roller 5 to remain longer in contact with the apron Q while traversing
the cylinder B.
Second. The knife of the ink box may be set so as to allow of more or less ink
being delivered to the apron Q.
Third. The roller R is moved through a variable distance by means of the ratchet
S and adjustable disc crank T.
Fourth. One, two, three, or four rollers may be used at will.

page_text: It has hitherto been usual to provide a break to arrest the momentum of the fly
wheel in case of accident or other need.
We now effect a complete severance of the machine from the fly wheel causing
instant stoppage of the machinery, while the fly wheel continues to revolve; U is
the fly wheel; V, the pullys for driving by power; W, the treadle which being
connected with the friction clutch plates X, Y, grasp or release the fly wheel U.
The fly wheel presents a wood friction surface to plates X, Y.
All side 'pressure
from the fork of the clutch is prevented by the cone Z being formed with a parallel
surface for the levers to rest on after being forced open by the conical portion of
the same.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of our said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into effect, we claim :-First. Con-
structing, arranging, and operating the inking mechanism, as and for the purposes
herein described. We also claim the arrangement of mechanism, herein shewn and
described, or any mere modification thereof, for operating the platen and giving rest
to the same without the aid of cams.
Second. The distributing roller formed with a screw or other suitable raised
figure upon its surface and distributing ink on a surface other than in the same
line of motion as that of a second set of rollers, as and for the purpose described.
Third. The operation of all essential parts of a printing machine from a single
shaft, as described.
Fourth. The constructing, arranging, and mounting of a type bed which shall
be fixed vertically while printing, but moveable to a horizontal plane at will.
Fifth. The operation of frisket arms by a parallel motion, as and for the purpose
described.
Sixth. In combination with a platen printing press, substantially as described,
the method of severing connection between the machine and its moving power by
means of a-friction clutch, as and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry Pattman Trueman and John George
New, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
HENRY PATTMAN TRUEMAN. (L.S.)
JOHN GEORGE NEW.
(L.S.)