IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Griffith Brewer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th June 1879. (A communication
from abroad by Jacob Worth, of Paris, France.)
$3
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 33, Chancery Lano, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES." (A communication from abroad by
Jacob Worth, of Paris, France.)
These improvements are applicable not only to large mechanical presses, but also
and particularly so for small private presses. It is known that for some years
people have been much occupied in this question, but it is here unnecessary to
describe what has been heretofore attempted to be done. I will forth with describe
the present Invention. The frame carries a tablo, which in external appearance
has a certain amount of resemblance to that of a sewing machine frame, but it may
assume any other convenient shape. On this frame a shoe plate is secured, which
receives two vertical cylindrical uprights which are encircled by springs enclosed in
sockets. The uprights carry at their upper ends a cross bar for supporting the
composer or type holder, which is movable and united to the crossbar by means of
a dovetail slide with a set screw, if the cross bar is lowered, and the type holder
by the driving power without fly wheel, the operation of which will be hereafter
described, while the driving power is in action, the spring will be compressed; but
as soon as the driving power ceases the springs will come into action and will raise
the cross bar, and consequently the type holder; at the end of the cross bar, two
guide rods are fitted which are united to a cross lower connecting bar, which itself
is joined to a connecting rod fixed to a pedal, the axis of rotation of which is taken
from the stand frame; it will be understood then that by pressing on the pedal the
type holder is lowered, compressing the springs, and as soon as pressure is removed
from the pedal the springs expand, the cross piece will be raised, drawing the type
holder with it during its upward motion.
The shoe piece has a raised part carrying slides, which may be with a dovetail or
made in two parts, with a holding plate placed below in which a carriage slides
which itself carries a pad, an inking roller, and a series of grippers and regulator;
at the end of the table there is a block provided with a pincer worked by a screw,
and intended to hold a movable plate which serves as ink slab; great importance
is attached to this movable plate for by it an inking as perfect as may be is

page_text: obtained, and on the other hand as it can be taken out easily by turning the screw
the cleaning is easy; when the machine is at rest the additional parts can be
enclosed in a drawer, the inking table and cylinder may even be put away there to
preserve them from the dust. The operation is as follows:-The composition is
first put up in type in the type holder; then on the ink slab a thin coating of ink
is laid; the carriage is then made to move several times over it in order that the
inking cylinder which is preferably made of gelatine shall spread in a uniform
manner the ink on the plate or marble; the carriage is advanced to the front of
the table, the inking roller which is itself supplied on the plate deposits its material
on the type, the paper to be printed is then secured by the grippers making them
come up to the margin of the regulator, which itself can be caused to advance or
recede and maintained in suitable position by means of a screw; when the sheet of
paper is thus placed, the carriage is brought to the rear of its extreme position,
which is regulated by the distance, the same as the extreme position in front is
regulated by the distance, the carriage being brought to the extreme rear position,
the part of the sheet to be printed on becomes placed between the pad and the type
holder; all that is necessary then is to press on the pedal to lower the type holder,
which imparts its impression to the sheet to be printed; releasing the pedal, the
spring comes into operation, the type holder is raised by their action, the carriage
is advanced, the printed paper removed, and the apparatus is ready for a fresh
operation. It should be noticed here that the hands are always free for working
the machine, the impression only being produced through the action of the feet;
however the inventor would reserve to himself the right of combining the
movement of the carriage and the typeholder in such manner that the advance
and recoil of the carriage is produced automatically in combination with the action
of the pedal. A second inking roller may be employed to obtain a more regular
distribution; the pad may have its pressure regulated by means of screws; the
inking plate may be supported by angle pieces.