Improvements in Presses for Printing or Embossing.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Presses for Printing or Embossing.
I, JOSEPH YARDLEY JOHNSTON, of 22, Bride Lane, in the City of London,
Manufacturer of Steel Die and Plate Presses, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to presses of the kind forming the subject of
Letters Patent granted to me and numbered respectively 16701 of 1893 and
14664 of 1894 and which are intended to print or emboss paper or other material
from female or intaglio engraved or other surfaces (hereinafter called dies)
which, for printing, are charged with ink colour or other substance (hereinafter
referred to as ink).
The press is so arranged that an arm adapted to revolve in a horizontal plane
and carrying the die from which an impression is to be taken, first passes over
an apparatus which charges the said die with ink, then over a wiping
apparatus which removes all superfluous ink, leaving the female part only
charged therewith, and is then brought to rest and locked over a counter, force,
male plate, or other apparatus or material, which is to resist the impression
blow underneath the paper or material to be printed, the impression being then
struck by a blow given by the release and descent of a spring or otherwise
actuated weighted screw plunger, which had been raised and looked during the
foregoing operations.
After the impression, the said arm again starts into motion and the above
cycle of operations is repeated, the whole being automatically performed, the
attendant having only to place the paper, or other material upon which the
impression is to be received, in position on the counter, force, male plate, or
other apparatus or material, which is to resist the impression blow, and to
remove it therefrom after the impression.
The main frame of the press is preferably cast in one piece and may consist
of a horizontal portion and an arched portion with extensions or brackets carry-
ing various parts of the operating gear; it is supported upon and bolted to leg
frames which are connected by a cross tie bolted to then. The main or first
motion shaft is horizontally journalled in the press, the inner end being carried
in the main frame while the other revolves in a hanger bolted to a bracket.
Upon the overhanging end of the said shaft is a belt pulley, which is free to
rotate thereon and drives the shaft by means of a clutch sliding on a feather
on the shaft; this clutch is moved in or out by the clutch fork actuated by a
rod and cam lever on turning which latter one half a revolution, the clutch is
drawn out of action, while on turning it back a spring on the said rod forces
the clutch back into engagement with the belt pulley.
Upon the main shaft is a spur pinion gearing with and driving a spur wheel
rotating on a stud screwed into a bracket and supported at its other end by the
said hanger. The teeth in the said pinion and spur wheel are so proportioned

page_text: that the wheel makes one revolution to three of the pinion. The die arm is
keyed or otherwise securely fastened to a vertical shaft; upon the hub of the
die arm is fixed a bevel pinion that gears with bevel teeth that are formed. upon
and occupy about two thirds of the periphery, of the front face of the spur
wheel mounted upon the stud, so that the said wheel forms a complete spur wheel
and an interrupted or mutilated bevel wheel, whose bevel teeth are sufficient
in number to effect a complete revolution thereof; therefore during two thirds
or other desired proportion of the revolution of the said wheel, the die armi
performs one revolution and during the remaining part, represented by the
inutilated section of the bevel gear the said die arm is at rest, during which
time the impression blow is struck.
While impression is taking place the die is held in register by the follow-
ing arrangement.
Upon the die arm is fixed an upwardly projecting piece having one vertical
side and one inclined side, above which, when in the printing position is a block
sliding vertically in a channel formed in a bracket affixed to the frame, the
Baid block being kept in place within the channel by a plate, and suitable
means, such, for example, as a wedge shaped strip adjusted by a screw, are pro-
vided to take up wear, it being essential that the block should work in the
channel without looseness or shake. The lower end of the block is notched or
fork-shaped to fit upon the upwardly projecting piece upon the die arm and the
right hand, or that end or side of the fork towards which the die arm travels
and which fits against the vertical side of the said piece. is longer than the
other end or side, which fits against the inclined side.
A spring having one end seated in a recess in a part of the frame and the
other engaging with a lug on the block constantly tends to force the said block
into engagement with the piece projecting from the die arm.
One end of a lever fulcrummed on a pin in a suitably arranged bracket
extends into a slot in the said block, while the other end is provided with a
roller which bears against a cam fixed on the hub of the combined bevel and
spur wheel. Immediately before the last tooth of the mutilated bevel gear on
the said wheel has left the bevel pinion connected to the die arm, the said cam
allows the block to drop, and the under surface of the shorter end or side of the
fork, then bearing upon the top of the upwardly projecting piece, acts as a
brake to check the momentum of the die arm and prevent the said projecting
piece striking the vertical face of the longer end or side of the fork with undue
force; but, as soon as the top of this piece has passed the said under-surface,
the inclined part of the fork pushes the said piece against the said vertical face,
and the downward motion of the block being now complete, the die arm is
securely locked and held in register.
The impression blow is then struck, after which the cam operates the lever
which lifts the block clear of the piece and the first tooth of the mutilated
bevel gear coming into contact with the bevel pinion on the die arm, starts the
latter on its revolution.
A small space is left at the top of the notch or fork in the block which fits
over the piece on the die arm so that any wear which takes place on the sides of
the said piece or of the fork is automatically compensated and looseness from
such cause avoided by the block dropping a trifle lower.
The block being rectangular in cross section and of large dimensions, and
sliding in an accurately fitting channel of the same shape, prevents the possi-
bility of the said block twisting, and in combination with the above described
arrangement ensures the die arm being always rigidly held with absolute accu-
racy in the registration position, but the block and channel may be of any other
form in cross section which will effectually resist turning.
The die is held in the following manner. A rectangular die block is fur-
nished with a square shank adapted to slide vertically in a square opening at
the end of the die arm and the said block is held normally in contact with

page_text: the underside of the arm by means of springs. The said square opening is
formed half in the arm and half in a detachable cap which may be secured
thereto by screws, thus providing means for taking up wear. A dovetailed
groove is formed horizontally across the underside of the block to receive dove-
tailed projections on clamp jaws which are caused to approach and grip the
die between them by means of a right and left handed screw, end motion of
which is prevented by plates fitting over shoulders thereon and secured to the
die block.
The die block may be provided with an index plate sliding in a groove
formed therein at right angles to the aforesaid dovetailed groove and secured
in the desired position by a screw pin which enters any one of a series of holes
formed in it; the die before being gripped by the clamp jaws, which as will
be understood automatically centre the die in one direction, is pushed against
the projecting end of the index plate in order that its correct position endways
or in the opposite direction may be ensured. By this means a die can be
instantly removed by simply loosening the screw and replaced exactly in its
previous position, thus ensuring correct register. In place of the index plate,
additional clamp jaws operated as in like manner to those above described by
a right and left handed screw, but arranged at right angles thereto may be
provided.
Upon the clamp jaw which is at the leading or forward edge of the die are
guards adapted to operate upon the inking roller at the required time the .con-
struction and action of which will be presently described.
In place of the dovetailed arrangement above described, the clamp jaws may
be provided with projections at the ends to embrace and slide upon the edges
of the block said edges and projections being of dovetail form if desired; or
any other suitable means may be employed for this purpose.
The mechanism for giving the impression blow is constructed as follows:
Bolted, or otherwise firmly secured on the top of the press frame, is a cylin
drical casting open at the top, the centre of the said casting being in a vertical
line with the axis of the shank of the die block when the latter is in registra-
tion. The screw plunger is a strong steel spindle having a quick pitched
square thread screw cut on its lower part. This screw is preferably triple
threaded, and works in a long nut of suitable material such as gun metal seated
and secured by studs and nuts, or other like contrivances within the upper part
of the press frame.
Above the screw portion of the plunger is a spur pinion which may advan-
tageously be integral with the plunger. The top of the plunger has a screw
thread cut thereon, below which is a polygonal portion; the part between this
portion and the pinion is of plain cylindrical form.
Above the pinion there is an arm secured to the plunger, and above this arm
there is a spur wheel free to rotate on the plunger. On the polygonal part of
the plunger a fly wheel is fixed. In practice, in order to avoid slackness in the
fit, the polygonal part of the plunger and the corresponding hole in the fly
wheel are made with a slight iaper, and the fly wheel is conveniently secured
by a nut and washer. When it is desired to increase the momentum and force
of the blow delivered by the screw plunger, one, two or more balance wheels
may be added as required. They are suitably secured to the fly wheel. The
upper screw of the plunger may be made of sufficient length to take such
balance wheels, and to avoid injury to the said screw in removing or placing
them in position, loose bushes fitting the bore of the wheels may be first slipped
over the screw so that on then tightening up the nut and bolts the whole
becomes practically one wheel.
Arms and weights might be employed in lieu of a fly wheel, but the latter
is preferable; it obviates the liability to accident such as may result if an
attendant should get within range of weighted arms whilst in motion.
The cylinder is closed by a cover suitably fastened thereto,

page_text: Surrounding the plunger between the fly wheel and the spur wheel there is a
sleeve which whilst leaving the spur wheel free to rotate on the plunger, pre-
vents end motion thereon.
The said sleeve fits a central aperture in the cover and thus provides a sliding
bearing for the upper end of the plunger, which tends to prevent vibration of
the plunger and fly wheel and sido strain and wear between the screw and nut.
The pinion gears with a pair of racks sliding in guides in the cylinder parallel
to each other, and the teeth of the pinion are made deeper than those of the
racks to ensure that at all times those rack teeth for the time being engaged
with the pinion shall be in complete contact notwithstanding variations in the
vertical position of the pinion due to rotation and consequent endwise move-
ment of the plunger. The ends of the racks terminate in discs or heads, which
enter horizontal tubular boxes bolted on opposite sides of the cylinder. These
boxes contain strong helical springs and are closed by caps screwed on or other-
wise firmly attached to their outer ends. In place of helical springs, pueu-
matic, rubber, or other springs may be employed.
Each cap is provided with a screw spindle having an end piece, a handle and
lock nut by screwing these spindles in or out the compression of the springs
can be varied in amount as desired; but any other suitable compression adjust-
ing devices may be employed.
When the plunger is rotated in a direction to. raise it, the racks move out-
wards, and when the first portion of their stroke is completed, their heads
engage with the springs, and the remainder of the stroke compresses the springs
against the end pieces, the amount of such compression depending, as above
indicated, on the position of the regulating Ecrews. On the release of the
plunger from the raised position, the springs start it quickly into motion, but
do not follow the racks for the whole of their return stroke, thus leaving the
plunger free to rebound quickly after the impression blow is delivered.
The raising locking and releasing of the plunger are accomplished as follows:
On the main shaft there is keyed a mitre wheel which drives another mitre
wheel that is keyed on a vertical shaft suitably journalled. On this shaft is a
spur pinion that drives the spur wheel on the plunger, so that said spur wheel
is in constant rotation on the plunger. The teeth of the pinion are made
deeper than those of the spur wheel to a sufficient extent to ensure the latter
being always fully in gear with the pinion, notwithstanding variations in the
vertical position of the spur wheel, due to rotation and consequent endwise
movement of the plunger. A connector, resembling an arm, which may be
constructed of a couple of connected plates, is pivoted at one end to the arm
that is fixed to the plunger, and at the other end is furnished with two small
rollers (which may be of hardened steel) arranged in a common plane and with
a third similar but larger roller occupying a higher position, these three rollers
being so arranged that their disposition as seen in plan, is triangular, with the
larger roller at the end of the connector.
Seated upon a ledge within the cylinder and suitably secured thereto, is a
guide inclined at its upper part and against which the outer of the two smaller
rollers is adapted to travel. Fixed to the hub of the spur wheel carried by the
plunger is a cam which, as the said wheel rotates, comes in contact with the
inner of the two smaller rollers and so carries along with it the connector and
the arm fixed to the plunger, thus rotating and raising the plunger and com-
pressing the energy storing springs. As the connector is moved round, its outer
small roller travels along the guide path until it comes opposite a recess or stop
adapted to hold it at the end of the inclined guide, and the larger roller on the
connector comes in contact with a fixed cam plate so shaped that it deflects the
free end of the connector outwardly, so as to cause the outer small roller to
enter or come opposite to the recess or stop. Afterwards the rearward part of
the cam on the spur wheel which is formed as part of a circle struck from the
centre of the plunger, acts upon the inner small roller of the connector.

page_text: and forces its outer small roller well home in the recess or against the stop, so
that the roller is retained by the recess or stop after the cam has passed, thus
locking the plunger in the raised position, with the springs compressed ready
to give the impression blow on release. The portion of the inner surface of
the guide adjacent to the recess has a curved formation struck from the centre
of the pivot of the connector so that the roller is guided easily into or out of
locking position at the end of the guide and yet is securely held to the recess
or stop by the pull of the springs, backlash or return movement being obviated.
The release of the plunger is effected by a cam or tripping piece carried by
the plunger spur wheel in such position that, at the proper time it comes in
contact with the larger roller of the connector and so causes the outer roller to
roll clear of the recess or stop: the plunger being thus freed, the springs imme-
diately start it in rotation and it descends and gives the impression blow. the
amount of the same being determinable, as before explained, by the degree of
compression of the springs. and the weight on the fly wheel.
The lower end of the plunger is provided with a hardened steel button or
disc suitably attached, and a cavity is formed in the top of the shank of the
die holder to receive a loose hardened steel cylindrical piece. The impact and
pressure of the plunger are received by these parts, which are readily renew-
able when worn. By varying the thickness of the cylindrical piece the length
of stroke of the plunger can be conveniently regulated.
The plunger, after giving the impression blow. immediately rebounds, up-
wards, and as some time elapses before the cam on the plunger spur wheel again
comes into position to engage with the connector, the plunger would be liable to
descend and give a second blow unless means were provided to lock it on the
rebound.
An arrangement for this purpose, according to my present invention, com-
prises a couple of racks fixed to the fly wheel, and having their toothed under-
sides inclined to the general form of part of a screw path of the same pitch as
that of the screw of the plunger. so that, as they are carried round their teeth
are always in position to engage, correctly. with pawls keved to spindles iour-
nalled in fixed positions at opposite sides of the cylinder. Each pawl is loaded
by spring or weight tending to retain the pawl with its nose uoward. The
action is as follows: As the plunger is raised. the rack teeth slip over the
nawls. and simultaneously with the plunger reaching its top position and being
locked, the last tooth of each rack passes over its nawl. leaving the pawl free
to assume a vertical position under the influence of its load..
When the plunger descends, the ends of the racks coming in contact with the
pawls push them over backwards so that the rack teeth, though meeting the
pawls, are able to slip over them and as the other ends of the racks pass the
pawls before the blow is struck, the pawls again assume a vertical attitude and
the racks, returning on the Febound. push the pawls forward and are caught by
them and locked at the end of the rebound. thus preventing a second blow being
delivered.
The outer end of each pawl spindle is formed to receive a key, whereby the
pawl can be turned into a position clear of the rack teeth. its end abutting
against a stop. Means are provided whereby the pawl can be locked in such
position. For instance each pawl may be locked in such position by inserting
a taper pin in a hole drilled through the pawl spindle and its outer bearing in
the box, said taper pin being conveniently attached by a short chain to the outer
end of the stop so as always to be at hand when wanted.
The provision for fixing the pawls out of contact with the racks enables the
plunger to be lowered by hand when it is locked on the rebound, and also
enables the attendant to throw up a counter quickly by operating the flywheel
by hand. while the press is not running.
The plunger, in its descent, forces the die holder down against the resistance
of the die supporting springs, and following immediately on the rebound of

page_text: the plunger, these springs lift the die clear of the paper before the die carrying
arm is again started.
With the above described impression mechanism, comprising the connector
with rollers and the specially formed guide path, with recess or stop, there is
practically an absence of friction in these parts when raising locking and
releasing the screw plunger, as also in the return motion after release.
The described arrangement for storing energy enables the blow of the die to
be regulated by varying the extent of compression of the springs, whilst the
quick free blow which is struck ensures the die completing its operative stroke
and yielding a good impression, notwithstanding give, or variation of the counter
or equivalent device arising from constant use, or variations in thickness of
paper or other material to be printed or impressed.
Another advantage of the quick free rebound blow is, that when the machine
is used for printing, the ink is freely delivered upon the paper, or other material
whilst leaving the edges of the engraving or other device that is printed sharp
and clear, whereas with a positive or dwell blow, especially where soft paper or
material is printed upon, the ink is liable to spit or run; furthermore the quick
rebound blow, when using soft paper or material, also has the effect of calender-
ing the surface simultaneously with the printing of the impression.
The press is provided with a lay-over automatically operated, so that after
the paper or other material to receive the impression is laid on the counter and
just as the die descends, the said, lay-over drops on the paper and is not raised
until after the die has been lifted and started to move away, thereby preventing
the said paper or other material sticking to and being lifted and carried away
by the die. The apparatus employed, consists of a pin sliding vertically in a
hole in the bracket attached to the horizontal part of the main frame of the
press; this pin carries at its upper part the lay-over plates or fingers and on
the bottom of the said pin, there is fixed a plate that is provided with two rollers
which bear against a face on the bracket and so prevent the pin turning.
Another roller provided on the said plate which rests on the edge of a cani-
ring rotated by the shaft to which the die arm is fixed. This ring lias a depres-
sion which at the right moment, permits the pin to drop the plates or fingers
then holding the paper: and the inclined side of the said depression, after the
impression blow has been struck and about the time the die moves away, raises
the pin which is kept raised until the depression again comes under the roller
on the bottom of the pin.
-
In one arrangement, the lay-over plates are held in a clamp, consisting of a
piece having a hinged cover, and, after being adjusted to the required position,
the said plates are gripped between said cover and piece by tightening a screw.
A taper dovetailed head is fixed on the top of the vertically moving pin, and
a corresponding recess is formed on the underside of the clamp-piece, so that
the clamp can be readily placed upon or removed from the said pin. When in
position it is held by a self-acting spring latch pin or bolt, the end of which
springs into a notch cut in the top of the dovetailed recess in the clamp piece."
The aforesaid lay-over plates are of such shape that they can be adjusted in
the clamp to suit dies etc:, of any size capable of being used in the press and
plates of one or more sizes may be provided. In operation they are so placed
that they encircle the counter on one, two, three or four sides and hold the
paper or stock down slightly below the surface to be printed, thus keeping
same away from contact with the die edges and so preventing any ink which
may be accidentally on the said edges being transferred to and spoiling the
impression. The plates may conveniently be of L-shape and fixed in position
upon the clamp by set screws which pass through slots formed in them: the
clamp itself being adjustable and similarly fixed in position. An adjustable
stop may be provided to regulate the drop of the lay-over, for different thick-
nesses of counter.

page_text: .
The mechanism and arrangements for charging the die with ink aré' as
follows:-
An upright frame is pivoted at its lower end on screw centres having their
axes in a common horizontal line and which are carried in lugs on a bracket
secured to a cross tie or otherwise. The screw centres are furnished with lock
nuts, and are of sufficient length to serve for accurately adjusting the position
of the frame in a direction parallel to the inking roller axis; to admit of other
adjustments the bolt or screw holes in the bracket are of elongated form. In
the upper part of the frame are two parallel holes, in which tubes slide. The
upper ends of these tubes are screwed, or otherwise securely fixed in the ink
reservoir table or support; their lower ends pass through holes in a plate and
are secured therein by lock nuts. The upper ends of the tubes are surrounded
by strong helical springs which abut against the top of the frame and the
underside of the table and support the said tubes and table. In the plate there
is a screw provided with a milled head; this screw abuts against a part of the
frame and serves to adjust the height to which the springs can raise the tubes
and table. A pinching screw is provided for locking the adjusting screw.
The pivoted frame is furnished with lugs that carry adjustable screw centres
which so support a nut that it can swivel.
Through this nut there passes a practically horizontal screw journalled at its
outer end in a bracket fixed to the frame of the press. It is provided with a
hand wheel, and with means for preventing end motion and taking up wear;
also with collars to prevent its being drawn out of the nut and to limit the
extent of its action. By rotating the screw the position of the top of the
pivoted frame and consequently of the ink reservoir and its rollers can be
adjusted as required. A pinching screw is or may be provided for locking the
adjusting screw when adjusted.
The reservoir for printing matter, such as ink or colour, is an open topped
vessel conveniently it may be rectangular in plan the bottom being curved to
a circular arc. The bottom is so formed externally as to rest securely upon the
table or support carried by the pivotted frame; and is provided with a couple
of parallel pins or studs adapted to enter the tubes with a good fit. The ends
of these pins or studs are preferably tapered so that they will the more readily
enter the tubes.
The rollers and agitator are worked through a short spindle which is sup-
ported in a bearing formed in the outer end of the ink reservoir and which is
lined with a hardened steel bush (readily renewable when worn). On the outer
end of the spindle there is fixed a sprocket wheel. At the inner end of the
spindle is an eccentric preferably formed in one piece with it. Suspended in
the interior of the reservoir by screw studs is an agitator, it has one or more
parallel horizontal bars provided with teeth inclined in opposite directions, to
effectually stir the ink, and produce cross-currents therein. The agitator is
provided with parallel faces and is oscillated by the eccentric as it rotates
between them.
At the inner end of the reservoir and in the same axial line as the short
spindle already described there is a screw centre provided with a lock nut, and
forming the support for one end of the spindle of the main ink roller
This spindle is at its other end furnished with a flange which fits into a
central recess in the eccentric and a semi-circular notch in the said flange fits
over a stud so that the spindle is driven by and practically forms a continuation
of the short spindle previously mentioned.
The main ink roller is secured on its spindle by set screws, or in any other
convenient manner.
In practice the reservoir is filled with ink to such a height that the main
roller is about half submerged therein, and as it rotates it takes up an ample
supply of ink on its surface. The roller which inks the die and which I call
the inking roller is placed at the centre of the top of the main roller and

page_text: parallel to it, receives the ink from the main roller, and is driven by frictional
contact therewith. In practice the inking roller advantageously comprises a
spindle surrounded by a wooden body covered with plush or other suitable
material. The wooden body is convenient for the attachment of the plush or
other material, but metal may be employed in place of wood, if preferred. For
some purposes, the roller may consist of ordinary inking roller or other suitable
composition, cast around the spindle in the usual way. The spindle ends rotate
in holes formed eccentrically in plugs which are inserted in openings in the
ends of the reservoir.
This arrangement affords a ready means of adjusting the distance of the
inking roller from the main roller, according as more or less ink is required on
the die, and enables the inking roller to adapt itself to irregularities in the sur-
face to be inked; and in cases where one end of the die surface requires more
ink than the other, it affords facilities for adjusting the ends of the roller,
independently of each other.
The plugs are or may be provided with polygonal heads, for convenience in
rotating them and there are means such as pinching screws to fix them in posi-
tion when adjusted.
A regulating roller is provided supported in eccentric adjustable plugs in a
similar manner, to regulate the amount of ink carried by the main roller to
the inking roller. The regulating roller may be of metal but in some cases
especially when using deeply sunk dies I employ a roller covered with flexible
or brush-like material such as plush for example.
In the case of the rollers intended to be capable of adjustment at either of
their ends the spindles carrying such rollers are formed at their ends with parts
resembling parts of spheres.
The top of the reservoir is provided with covers suitably hinged at or near
their edges, one to each side of the inking roller to arrest dust and dirt and
check evaporation of ink. To enable the inking roller and other parts includ-
ing the reservoir to be depressed by a suitable appliance in order that the edge
of a disc or surface to be inked may clear the inking roller, there is provided
at or near each end of the spindle of that roller a disc or roller free to rotate
on the spindle and of slightly larger diameter than the inking roller; these
discs or rollers are intended to bear against any suitable contrivance with which
the press is provided for effecting the required temporary depression of the
inking roller and other parts.
To remove the ink rollers from the reservoir, the outer eccentric plug of the
inking roller is drawn partly out, whereupon the end of its spindle can be lifted
up through a gap provided for the purpose and the roller then taken out.
The ink regulating roller is removed in a similar manner by drawing back
one of its eccentric plugs. The screw centre of the main roller spindle being
then screwed back a short distance, the main ink roller with its spindle can be
lifted out. The ink agitator is removed by drawing back the studs on which
it swings.
Thus the whole of the interior mechanism of the ink reservoir can be quickly
taken apart when required for cleaning or other purpose.
As it is necessary that the leading edge of the die should not be charged
with ink, means are provided which ensure the inking roller not coming in
contact with the die face until after the leading edge of the latter has passed
the top of the said roller. The said means consist of guards on the leading or
forward die clamp, acting in conjunction with the aforesaid rollers on the inking
roller spindle. The ends of the said clamp extend beyond the die block and each
said end is formed with a rectangular opening, in which a block is free to slide
vertically. These blocks are confined in the said openings by plates, secured
by screws to the ends of the clamp, and they are adjusted and held vertically
by screws provided with hexagon or milled heads. These screws are seated in
or extend into plain semi-circular vertical recesses or grooves in the sides of

page_text: the openings aforesaid, and motion of each screw being prevented by a semi-
circular collar formed at the end of its recess or groove entering a circular
groove at the top of the screw under its head, and the thread of the screw
engages in a threaded semicircular groove, or half-nut, formed in the side of
the block. The screws are cut with a fine thread, so that a fine vertical adjust-
ment can be given to the blocks. Secured to the bottom of each block is a
hardened steel plate having the front part of its under surface inclined. The
blocks are adjusted to such a height that the horizontal part of the surface of
the plates is slightly above the under surface of the die. As the die approaches
the inking roller, the inclined parts of the plates come in contact with the
rollers on the inking roller spindle and depress them, the inking roller and the
entire ink reservoir, slightly compressing the helical supporting springs; the
top of the inking roller is now below the plane of the die surface, but, as soon
as the hardened steel plates pass the rollers, the said springs are free to force
the reservoir up again, and the said plates are so located that the inking roller
comes in contact with the die just beyond its leading edge and therefore no ink
is delivered on the front edge of the die. The die now travels over the inking
roller, which is pressed against it by the springs and becomes charged with ink.
As the blocks are carried by the clamp jaw, they always occupy the same
relative position to the edge of the die, whatever may be its width, so that this
adjustment is automatic, and the distance from the edge of the die to the place
where the inking roller meets its face is regulated by raising or lowering the
said blocks as required, by their adjusting screws and they can be adjusted
independently of each other to suit variations in the position of the ends of
the inking roller. The thickness of the die and the diameters of the loose
rollers are suitably proportioned, the diameters of the said rollers being increased
if a thicker die is used and vice versa.
The rear clamp jaw is inclined to prevent it making contact with the inking
roller after the die has passed the same.
The use of the adjusting screw connected to the pivoted frame is to adjust
the ink reservoir for different widths of dies, so that the inking roller is always
delivered on the die or printing surface parallel to its front edge, and
the inking part of the said roller is of sufficient length to ink the largest die
or printing surface the machine is designed to take.
The reservoir table adjusting screw serves to adjust the position of the inking
roller to suit dies or equivalents of varying thickness, as well as to regulate the
amount of force with which the springs shall press the inking roller against the
die or printing surface; that screw is also used when it is desired to pull the
ink reservoir down clear of the die or printing surface, so that the latter can
pass over the inking roller without being inked.
When apparatus according to this invention is used in a press furnished with
suitable depressing mechanism such as described for enabling the front edge of
a die or equivalent to clear the inking roller, the said screws in combination
with the adjustable eccentric bearings of the inking roller and the depressing
devices, afford convenient means for controlling with accuracy all the various
requirements to be observed in charging the die or printing surface with the
necessary ink, colour or other matter.
The ink reservoir can be removed by simply lifting it off, without disturbing
or affecting the adjustments and it can be replaced or another reservoir be sub-
stituted for it with the certainty of exactly occupying the previous position, as
the parallel pins which fit into the tubes accurately locate and secure the reser-
voir in place. The sprocket wheel driving the main roller and ink agitator can
be convenient driven as follows:-
A standard is fixed to the main frame of the press, terminating at its upper
end in a long tubular socket, within which a stud or pin is adapted to slide
vertically, being supported on a spring and prevented from twisting by a hori-
zontal pin passed through a slot in its lower end.

page_text: Fixed to the top of the said pin is a device having two spindles journalled in
it at right angles to each other. On the outer end of one of these spindles is
a sprocket wheel, driven by a chain from another sprocket wheel, which latter
is fixed on the hub of the belt pulley of the press. The inner end of the said
spindle is provided with a bevel pinion, which drives a bevel wheel on the inner
end of the second spindle. The outer end of the second spindle has a sprocket
wheel running loose thereon, which drives the sprocket wheel on the ink reser-
voir by a chain. The hub of the loose sprocket wheel is provided with clutch
teeth to engage with similar clutch teeth on a knob that can be slidden on a
feather on the spindle. A spring latch pin concealed within the said knob
holds it either in or out of engagement with the sprocket wheel. The inking
roller and agitator can therefore be instantly stopped by merely pulling the
knob out and started by pushing it in.
The gearing is supported on the spring in order that it may automatically
adapt its position to variations in the vertical adjustment of the ink reservoir
effected by the table adjusting screw and to the small downward motion of the
reservoir caused each time by the passage of the depressing devices over the
discs or rollers provided for said devices to act against. The object of driving
the inking apparatus from the belt pulley hub, is that when the said pulley is
disconnected from the main shaft in order to bring the press to rest, the inking
apparatus shall still continue in motion, it being necessary with many kinds of
ink or colouring matter to keep the same in constant motion or agitation, to
prevent its drying on the rollers and to keep it thoroughly mixed and avoid the
sediment or solid particles settling to the bottom of the reservoir. At the same
time the motion can be stopped, if required, by the clutch knob, as before
described.
The die having been thus charged with ink, colour or other matter required,
the next operation is to wipe or remove from its surface all ink, except that
contained in the lines or other parts which give the impression.
The general construction and action of the apparatus performing this func-
tion is as follows:-
The die arm after leaving the inking apparatus, brings the die over, but not
in contact with the clean surface of a strip of suitable paper, stretched over a
comparatively soft and elastic pad, carried on a metal table. The said table is
then raised, pressing the paper into close contact with the die and so forcing
the ink thoroughly into the lines thereon, and while the surfaces are thus
pressed together, the onward movement of the die, sweeping with a twisting
motion over the paper, due to the circular path of the die arm, removes all super-
fluous ink therefrom, leaving the said die in perfect condition for giving the
impression. The aforesaid table is supported on springs in such manner that it
automatically adapts itself to any irregularity or want of parallelism in the form
of the die. After the die has been wiped, the table is lowered and the strip of
paper automatically moved a sufficient distance to expose a clean place for the
next wine.
The wiping apparatus is contained in a frame, consisting of two side plates,
a top plate and a bottom plate connected by screws. On the underside of the
bottom plate is a stud fitting and sliding in an aperture in the cross-tie of the
main frame and the weight of the apparatus is borne by coiled springs, counter-
weights, or other like contrivances.
The table aforesaid consists of a platen having a central boss on its under-
side, drilled and tapped to receive a screw stud. This stud is passed upwards
through a conical hole in a boss in the centre of the top of the frame, and has
a head abutting against the underside of the said hole. It forms the connec-
tion between the said top and platen and affords a means of adjusting the dis-
tance between them. It is supported and prevented from turning after adjust-
ment, by a pin passed through a slot in its head and the aforesaid central boss.

page_text: Screwed into a tapped boss in each corner of the top of the frame is a stud
having a worm wheel on its lower end.
Four horizontal spindles are journalled parallel with each other in the frame
and have worms on their inner ends engaging respectively with the said four
worm wheels. Seated in recesses in bosses on the underside of the platen are
four helical springs their ends bearing on loose discs resting on the upper ends
of the worm wheel studs.
The worm spindles are provided on their outer ends with milled heads and
by rotating the said spindles the compression of the springs on which the platen
rests can be varied as required to adjust the position of the platen to any irregu-
larity or want of truth in the die surface, or to concentrate the pressure of
wiping at any particular part of the die. The springs form an elastic support
to the platen, enabling it to move about the central screw stud as a centre and
automatically adapt itself to the die face.
Journalled in lugs under the front edge of the platen is an eccentric roller,
having the end of one of its pivots formed square for convenience in rotating
it with a key. Under the back edge of the platen a slotted roller is similarly
journalled. It is provided at one end with a knob furnished with tommyholes,
or with a hexagon head to take a spanner, and at the other end with a nut to
lock it. The pad before mentioned is composed of pieces of felt and card-
board laid on the platen and covered by a piece of felt, one end of which is
gripped between the eccentric roller and the underside of the platen, the other
end being inserted in the slot in the roller at the other edge of same; the said
roller is rotated till the felt is strained tight, and then locked by the nut afore-
said at its end.
A loose plug is inserted in a cavity under each of the screw studs, on which
the platen supporting springs rest, to form a stop, and the extent of downward
motion of the said studs can be adjusted by inserting plugs of varying lengths.
The aforesaid worm spindles are preferably so arranged that they all rotate
in the same direction for raising the studs, and in the reverse direction for
lowering them.
The wiping paper consists of a long strip wound into a roll which is carried
on a spindle, journalled in forks in the ends of arms extending from the side
plates of the frame of the wiping apparatus. The said spindle carries movable
discs or flanges furnished with set screws, or other suitable devices to fix them
on the spindle to suit varying widths of paper. Spikes or pointed projections
are provided on the inner sides of the discs which enter and grip conical wooden
sleeves surrounding the spindle and adapted to be forced into the ends of the.
paper roll, so that the said spindle is held firmly in the roll.
It is retained in the forks on the ends of the arms by vertical bars swinging
on set screws so that by turning the said bars aside the spindle with the paper
can be instantly removed from or placed in its bearings. The said forks are
provided with blocks which can be pressed by screws in the bars against the
journals of spindle so that any desired degree of friction can be put on the said
spindle.
The paper passes upwards, over the pad on the platen, and then down to a
waste paper roller, on which it is wound up as used. This waste paper roller
is made in two approximately semi cylindrical parts hinged to each other on
one side but with a gap left between the edges on the other side, which edges
are connected by one or two hinged pieces secured by screws, or other suitable
devices, so that they can be readily disconnected when required. The waste
paper roller has a spindle carried in bushes journalled in holes in the side plates
of the frame. The inner ends of these bushes have flanges in recesses in which
are seated friction washers of vulcanised fibre or other suitable material, bearing
against the hub ends of the roller.
The spindle has a head at one end, bearing against the outer end of the
corresponding bush, and the bushes, which slide on feathers on the said spindle,

page_text: are forced against the ends of the hub of the roller by a nut screwed on the
other end of the spindle.
Therefore when the said spindle is rotated, the roller also rotates by the fric-
tional contact of the washers.
Journalled in the upper part of the frame of the wiping apparatus above the
waste paper roller, is a spindle having a feed roller secured thereon against
which the paper coming from the clean roller is pressed by a friction roll having
grooves formed on its surface which converge towards the middle of the roll
and in which are embedded strips of felt or other suitable material, to give the
necessary grip on the paper. The spindle ends of this friction roll are carried
in bearings sliding longitudinally in arms extending from the side plates
of the frame and these bearings are forced up by screws to give the necessary
pressure.
If now the feed roller and the waste paper roller be simultaneous partially
rotated, it is evident that the paper will be drawn off the supply roll by the
former and drawn down over the pad on the platen by the latter and wound
thereon. Such partial rotation is effected as follows:-
Rotating loosely on the spindle of the feed roller against which the friction
roller presses the paper, is an arm and on one of the bushes of the waste paper
roller is a similar arm. These arms respectively carry pawls, which are kept in
contact with ratchet teeth on the said spindle and bush respectively by springs, and
they have spur teeth cut on their rear portions, so that they form partial spur
pinions which gear with teeth on a rack bar sliding vertically on studs. When
the said rack bar is raised the pawls slip over the ratchet teeth, but when it is
depressed the pawls engage with the said teeth and simultaneously rotate the
feed roll and the waste paper roller thus feeding the wiping paper forward.
The amount of feed necessarily varies with the size of the die employed, as the
larger the die, the greater the surface of paper used each time for wiping.
Pivoted around the boss on the side plate of the wiper frame in which the feed
roller spindle rotates, is a quadrant having a guard plate covering part of the
teeth of the ratchet wheel fixed thereto.
It is provided with a curved slot through which a set screw extends so that
the guard can be fixed in any required position, and the feed of the paper regu-
lated according to the number of ratchet teeth which are exposed to the action
of the pawl. The movement given to the waste paper roller spindle does not
vary, being always equal to the largest amount of paper feed; for shorter feeds,
or for increase in diameter as the paper accumulates on the roller, the friction
washers aforesaid, allow the roller to slip on its spindle, the pressure being
regulated by the nut on the end of said spindle to just permit such slip and ret
insure the roller taking up the waste paper and holding it taut on the wiping
pad. To prevent backlash or rotation in the wrong direction, one edge of the
waste paper roller is cut with ratchet teeth and two spring pawls or latches are
seated in the frame of the wiper to engage with the said teeth.
When the waste paper roller is full, the nut on its spindle is removed and
the spindle drawn out, when the roller with the paper thereon can be taken out
of the frame. The hinged pieces of the roller being then unfastened and
turned inwards, the roller collapses and can be drawn freely out of the roll of
paper, thus avoiding the waste of time involved in unwinding or cutting the
paper to remove it, as was necessary with the form of roller previously employed.
The wiping apparatus is lifted to press the paper against the die by the
following arrangement.
A lever, pivoted at its outer end, is provided with a semi-circular cavity on
its upper side at or about the centre in which the circular curved end of the
boss on the underside of the top of the frame seats. At the inner end of the
lever is a downwardly projecting part carrying a roller which extends over the
upner surface of a disc fixed on the vertical shaft of the die arm and into the
path of a cam piece formed on said disc which as it travels round comes under

page_text: the roller and so lifts the wiper pressing the paper into close contact with
the die.
The inner end of the lever is guided between vertical jaws carried by the
frame of the press and when it has been raised as above described, a hook
carried by the lever and actuated by a spring slips over a bar upon the frame
and holds the wiper in the raised position in contact with the die. A sleeve fixed on
the vertical die arm shaft is furnished with a roller which at the right time, coming
in contact with the top of the hook pushes it off the bar and allows the wiper
to drop, the cam having meanwhile passed clear away from under the roller:
and the springs or contrivances before mentioned act as buffers to check the
fall of the apparatus.
As it is necessary to be able to regulate with great delicacy and precision
the height to which the wiper shall rise, to suit variations in the thickness of
dies, or of the wiping pad or to vary the pressure against the die according to
its size or the amount or nature of the work thereon, the following adjusting
arrangement is employed. The outer end of the lever raising the wiper works
between two vertical jaws and a pin passing horizontally through these jaws
and a vertical slot in the lever prevents endways motion of the lever but allows
it to rise or fall a certain amount. The under surface of the said end is
inclined and rests upon a fulerum piece adapted to slide between jaws and
which is drilled and tapped to receive a screw rotating in bearings without end
motion. On the outer end of the said screw is a worm wheel and a shaft
which carries a worm engaging with the said worm wheel and extends to a
convenient part of the apparatus where it is provided with a hand wheel. By
rotating this hand wheel, the fulcrum piece can be very finely adjusted in a
horizontal direction and, by its co-operation with the inclined surface aforesaid,
the end of the lever, and in consequence the wiping apparatus is raised or
lowered as required, the operation practically consisting in a change in the
position of the fulcrum.
This adjustment can be effected without stopping the working of the press.
At the top of the rack bar which operates the feed roll and the waste paper
rollers are two antifriction rollers though a single roller may be employed if
preferred, and the underside of the cam disc which operates the just described
lever is furnished with another path arranged to operate upon the said rollers.
At the proper time this cam pushes down the rack bar and so causes the wiping
paner to be fed forward as before described.
The return stroke of the rack bar is given by a spring, and the extent of its
upward travel can be regulated by lock nuts on a screw extending from its lower
end and passing through a lug on the frame.
As it is sometimes required to feed the paper forward by hand, the said rack
bar is provided with a handle for that purpose.
Two arms are fixed to the side plates of the wiper frame on which a couple
of carriages connected rigidly together are adapted to slide. They carry a roller
covered with rubber, plush or other suitable material, and a pivoted scraper-
plate, the upper edge of which is caused by means of springs or weights to bear
against the roller. The paper is pressed against the roller by the said unner
edge of the scraper-plate and is drawn down between them by the action of the
waste paper roller. The ink flows down the said plate and is received in a can
or suitable receptacle which is emptied at intervals into the ink reservoir. Other
scraping arrangements may be employed for instance a fixed scraper plate and
a paper guiding roller may be employed.
In order to start the die-arm gradually into motion after the impression blow
has been struck and before the teeth of the herein before mentioned mutilated
bevel wheel gear again with the bevel pinion connected to the die arm there
may be employed, if desired, a device comprising a wedge piece that is capable
of swivelling on a pin fixed upon the upper face of said bevel pinion, (the
amount of such motion being limited by a slot and set screw) and, on the under-
side of the lever which operates the die arm locking block is fixed an oppositely

page_text: arranged wedge piece, the two wedge pieces being so arranged that, after the
said lever has raised the locking block clear of the tooth on the die arm with
which it engages the continued downward motion of the end of the lever brings
the inclined surfaces of the said pieces into contact and, by reason of their
inclined faces, starts the die arm into. motion just as the bevel teeth are coming
into gear. The swivelling motion of the piece upon the die arm pinion is pro-
vided to ensure the inclined faces having proper contact with each other during
the time of their action, as the circular motion of the die arm would alter the
angle of contact, if both pieces were fixed.
The counter or other equivalent device, upon which the paper, or other
material receiving the impression is laid, is cemented or otherwise fixed upon
a loose metal counter plate standing upon the anvil surface of the straight or
horizontal part of the frame of the press. As it is necessary that this counter
plate be rigidly held and yet be able to be immediately removed and replaced
exactly in its former position to ensure accurate register, frames are securely
fastened to the said anvil face and are provided with projections which bear
against the edges of the counter plate and locate its position. The faces of
the said projections are accurately ground and the surfaces and edges of the
counter plates are ground to gauge to an exact fit therein so that the counter
plates are all interchangeable in the said frames.
A projecting pin on one of the frames enters a notch in the edge of the
counter plate to prevent it being laid the wrong way on the anvil and notches
are formed on the underside or edge of the counter plate so that it can be
readily raised from the anvil by inserting the ends of two small rods or levers
therein.
The various parts of the mechanism of the press are so arranged and adjusted
that the sequence of operations for printing with ink, colour, or other material
is as follows:-
The impression blow having been struck, the screw plunger rebounds and is
caught at the end of its rebound by the recoil pawls which engage with the racks
connected to the plunger. Just at the end of this rebound, or thereabouts, the
die arm locking block is raised. the bevel teeth of the mutilated wheel and die
arm pinion come into gear and the die arm moves away; it then passes over
the inking apparatus charging the die with ink in the manner before described
and continuing its motion brings the die over the wiping apparatus, and at
this moment the latter is raised into contact with the die by the upwardly pro-
jecting cam carried by the lower end of the die arm shaft. During the time
of passing from the inking to the wiping apparatus, the cam on the continuously
rotating gear wheel which is mounted upon the screw plunger will have picked
up the connector attached to said plunger and completed its upward motion and
locked it. The die having now passed over the wiping apparatus and been
wiped, the roller carried by a sleeve on the die arm throws the wiper support-
ing hook off the bar and the wiper drops. The die being now in position over
the anvil, it is locked in register by the descent of the locking block and the
tripping piece carried by the continuously rotating gear wheel immediately
releases and so permits the screw plunger to descend and give the impression.
The wiping paper feed is given shortly after the die arm starts into motion
again by the downwardly projecting cam carried by the die arm shaft. When the
press is used for plain embossing work, or relief stamping, without ink or colour
of any kind, the inking and wiping apparatus are not required, and thereforc
in such cases it is not necessary for the die-arm to revolve. To provide for this,
the following arrangement is employed.
The pinion which gears with the spur teeth of the combined spur and muti-
lated bevel wheel can slide upon the first motion shaft a sufficient distance to
clear the said wheel, and a set screw is provided in the hub of the pinion to
enter either of two recesses in the shaft, so that the said pinion can be fixed
in or out of gear with the wheel as required. A long feather on the shaft,

page_text: When therefore,
drives the pinion, so that no strain is borne by the set screw.
plain embossing or relief work is to be executed, it is simply necessary to slide
the pinion out of gear with the wheel; the die arm then remains stationary,
while the mechanism for raising, locking and releasing the screw plunger
operates as usual to give the necessary blow.
The combined spur and mutilated bevel wheel is placed and left in such posi-
tion that the die arm locking block remains down holding the die arm in
register all the time.
To return to ink or colour work, the pinion is slid back into gear with the
said wheel, and marks or other devices are provided on the pinion and wheel to
ensure the correct teeth being brought into gear, otherwise the motions of the
screw plunger mechanism would not be in correct time with the motion of the
die arm.
:
I wish it to be understood that in carrying my invention into practice, I do
not necessarily confine myself to the exact details of construction herein described,
as the same may be varied within certain limits without departing from the
essential features of my invention, and, although I have herein before described
an improved construction of printing press, it is to be noted that I have also
described as parts thereof improved mechanism for wiping or removing super-
fluous ink from the die, also improved lay-over mechanism for holding the paper
during impression and until the die has been raised clear of the paper, and
likewise improved mechanism for holding the die in the die block and for pre-
venting the inking device coming in contact with and charging with ink the
edges of the die, which several improvements may be respectively used in other
machines than that herein-described, and independently of one another and they
respectively form the subjects of separate applications for Letters Patent by me,
bearing even date herewith.
1, JOSEPH YARDLEY JOHNSTON, of 22, Bride Lane, in the City of London,
Manufacturer of Steel Die and Plate Presses, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has reference to presses of the kind forming the subject of
Letters Patent granted to me and numbered respectively 16704 of 1893 and
14664 of 1894 and which are intended to print or emboss paper or other material
from female or intaglio engraved or other surfaces (hereinafter called dies)
which, for printing, are charged with ink colour or other substance (hereinafter
referred to as ink).
The press
is so arranged that an arm adapted to revolve in a horizontal plane
and carrying the die from which an impression is to be taken, first passes over
an apparatus which charges the said die with ink, then over a wiping
apparatus which removes all superfluous ink, leaving the female part only
charged therewith, and is then brought to rest and locked over a counter, force,
male plate, or other apparatus or material, which is to resist the impression
blow underneath the paper or material to be printed, the impression being then

page_text: Figs. 46, 47 and 48 are respectively a front elevation, a side elevation and a
plan of the apparatus for automatically wiping the die after the inking operation;
Figs. 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53 are detail views to an enlarged scale of parts of
the said wiping apparatus, and
Figs. 54 and 55 are respectively a front elevation partly in section and an end
elevation of a collapsible waste paper roller forming part of said wiping apparatus
the roller being shown expanded;
Fig. 56 is a similar view to Fig. 55 showing the wheel collapsed.
Fig. 57 is a sectional detail view of the waste paper roll spindle and its driving
gear;
-
Fig. 58 is a detail view of a modified form of device for scraping ink off the
waste paper.
Fig. 59 is plan of the counter plate with devices for holding same in position,
and Figs. 60 and 61 are sections respectively on the lines IJ, K—L.
Fig. 62 is an edge view of the counter plate.
The main frame of the press is preferably cast in one piece and may consist
of a horizontal portion and an arched portion with extensions or brackets carry-
ing various parts of the operating gear; it is supported upon and bolted to leg
frames which are connected by a cross tie bolted to them. The main or first
motion shaft a is horizontally journalled in the press, the inner end being
carried in the main frame while the other revolves in a hanger bolted to a
bracket. Upon the overhanging end of the said shaft is a belt pulley b, which
ie free to rotate thereon and drives the shaft by means of a clutch c Fig. 3
sliding on a feather on the shaft; this clutch is moved in or out by the clutch
fork actuated by a rod e and. cam lever f (Fig. 2). On turning the cam lever
one half a revolution, the clutch is drawn out of action, while on turning it
back a spring g on the rod e forces the clutch back into engagement with the
belt pulley b.
Upon the main shaft a is a spur pinion h (Fig. 23) driving a spur wheel i
rotating on a stud, the wheel making one revolution to three of the pinion.
The die arm j is fixed to a vertical shaft k and upon its hub is fixed a bevel
pinion that gears with bevel teeth m that are formed upon about two thirds of
the periphery of the front face of the spur wheel and are sufficient in number
to effect a complete revolution of the pinion and the die arm during about two
thirds of each revolution of the wheel, the die-arm being stationary for the
remaining part of the revolution, during which time the impression blow is
struck..
While impression is taking place the die is held in register by the following
arrangement which is illustrated most clearly in Figs. 28 to 31 inclusive.
Upon the die-arm j is fixed an upwardly projecting piece having one vertical
side and one inclined side as shown, and above which, when in the printing
position, is a block sliding vertically in a channel formed in a bracket p, the
said block being kept in place within the channel by a plate q, and suitable
means, such, for example, as a wedge shaped strip r adjusted by a screws, are
provided to take up wear, it being essential that the block o should work in the
channel without looseness or shake. The lower end of the block is notched or
fork-shaped to fit upon the upwardly projecting piece n and the right hand
portion of the fork towards which the die arm travels and which fits against
the vertical side of the piece n, is longer than the other portion which fits
against the inclined side, and which is made with a flat end of considerable
width; a spring constantly tends to force the block into engagement with the
piece n.
One end of a lever u, fulcrummed on a pin v, extends into a slot in the block o,
while a roller won the other end bears against a came fixed to the wheel i.
Immediately before the last tooth m has left the bevel pinion 7, the cam r allows
the block o to drop, and the under-surface of the shorter and wider portion of
the fork then bears upon the piece n (see Fig. 30), checks the momentum of

page_text: the die arm and thus prevents the piece n striking with undue force the vertical
face of the block, against which the inclined part of the fork then pushes the
piece and thus locks the die-arm in register (see Fig. 29); the depth of the
notch in the block o is such that when the die arm is locked by it, a space is left
above the projection », thus ensuring proper locking notwithstanding wear of
the parts or the intrusion of dirt between them.
The impression blow is then struck, after which the cam.r
operates the lever u
which lifts the block o clear of the piece and the first tooth m engaging the
bevel pinion starts the die arm on its revolution.
In order to start the die-arm moving slowly before the teeth m gear with
the bevel pinion 1, a wedge piece y (Figs. 28 and 31) is arranged upon the bevel
pinion so as to be capable of swivelling (the amount of its swivelling motion
being limited by a slot and set screw 2) and, on the underside of the lever # is
fixed another wedge piece z, the two wedge pieces being so arranged that, after
the lever has raised the block o clear of the piece the continued motion of
the lever brings the wedge pieces y and z into contact and, by reason of their
inclined faces, starts the die arm into motion just as the bevel teeth mare
coming into gear. The swivelling motion of the piece y ensures the inclined
faces having proper contact with each other during the time of their action, as
the circular motion of the die arm would alter the angle of contact, if both
pieces were fixed.
The block o being rectangular in cross section and of large dimensions, and
sliding in an accurately fitting channel of the same shape, cannot twist, and
ensures the die arm being always rigidly held with accuracy in the registration
position.
The die 1 is attached to a rectangular die block 2 (Fig 23) furnished with a
square shank 3 sliding in an opening formed partly in the end of the die arm j
and partly in a detachable cap, said block being held normally in contact with
the underside of the arm by springs 5. A dovetailed groove across the underside
of the block 2 receives dovetailed projections on clamp jaws 6 and 7 (Figs. 32
to 37) operated by a right and left-handed screw 8 held longitudinally by
plates 9, 9 secured to the die block. An index plate 10 formed with a series of
recesses or holes corresponding to the graduations of the index is arranged to
slide in a groove formed in the die block at right angles to the dovetailed groovе
and to be secured in the desired position by a screw pin 11 (Figs. 24 and 36)
which enters any one of the recesses or holes; the clamp jaws 6 and 7 auto-
matically centre the die in one direction, and by pushing it against the end of
the index plate 10 previous to clamping, its correct position in the opposite
direction may be ensured. Thus, by simply loosening the screw 8, a die can be
freed for removal; it can be replaced, exactly in its previous position, thus
ensuring correct register. In place of the above described index plate, two
plates or stops operated by a right and left handed screw at right angles to the
aforesaid screw 8 may be employed to automatically centre or locate the die
longitudinally.
In place of the dovetailed arrangement above described, the clamp jaws 6 and 7
may be provided with projections at the ends to embrace and slide upon the
edges of the block 2 said edges and projections being of dovetail form, if desired;
or any other suitable means may be employed for this purpose.
Upon the clamp jaw 6, which is at the leading or forward edge of the die,
are guards adapted to operate upon the inking roller at the required time, the
construction and action of which will be presently described.
The mechanism for giving the impression blow is illustrated more particularly
in Figs. 5 to 22 inclusive and is constructed as follows:-
Secured on the top of the press frame is a cylindrical casting 13 fitted with a
suitably secured cover 14 and having its axis in line with that of the die block
shank 3 when the die arm is in the printing position. A plunger 15, which
has a quick pitched triple threaded screw cut on its lower part 16, extends

page_text: centrally through the casting 13. The screw works in a long nut 17 secured
within the press frame.
18 is a spur pinion formed on the plunger, and above it is secured an arm 19,
a spur wheel 20 being free to rotate on the plunger above said arm. A fly
wheel 21 is fixed by a nut 22 upon a tapering polygonal part of the plunger
and, when it is desired to increase the force of the blow delivered by the screw
plunger, one or more balance wheels or rings may be secured to the Hy wheel.
23 is a sleeve between the fly wheel 21 and the spur wheel 20 for preventing
end motion of the latter; the said sleeve fits a central aperture in the cover 14
which forms a bearing for and tends to prevent vibration of the plunger and fly
wheel and side strain and wear between the screw and nut.
The pinion 18 gears with a pair of racks 24 sliding in guides 25, 25, (shown
in Figs. 8 and 9) secured in the cylinder 13 parallel to each other; the racks 24
terminate in heads, which work in tubular boxes 26, 26, bolted to the cylinder 13,
as shown. These boxes contain springs 27 and are closed by screw caps 28, 28.
Each cap is fitted with a screw spindle 29 having an end piece 30 a hand wheel 31
and lock nut 32 by screwing the spindles 29 in or out, the compression of the
springs 27 can be varied, as desired.
When the plunger 15 is rotated so as to raise it from its lowest position, the
racks 24 move outwards freely during the first portion of their stroke, then
their heads abut against the springs 27, which, during the remainder of the
stroke, are compressed against the end pieces 30. On the release of the
plunger 15, the springs 27 quickly start it into motion, but have expanded to
their full length before the racks have completed their return stroke, thus
relieving them and the plunger from pressure, so that the latter may be free
to rebound quickly after the impression blow is delivered.
The raising, locking and releasing of the plunger are accomplished as follows:--
On the main shaft is keyed a mitre wheel 36. (Fig. 23) which drives another
mitre wheel 36 keyed on a shaft 37 on which is a spur pinion 38 gearing with
the spur wheel 20 which is thus kept in continuous rotation on the plunger 15.
The spur wheel 20 is intermittently connected to the plunger 15 by means of a
connector comprising a link 39 formed of a couple of connected plates (see Fig. S)
and pivoted to the arm 19 of the plunger; the link is furnished with a drag
roller 40 and a locking roller 41 arranged at the same level, and with a larger
roller 42 occupying a higher position, the three rollers being arranged triangular-
wise as seen in plan (Figs. 5 and 6) the roller 42 being at the end of the link.
Secured upon a ledge within the cylinder 13 is a guide 43, the upper edge
of which may conveniently be curved, and fixed to the spur wheel 20 is a cam
arm 44, the forward edge of which comes in contact with the drag roller 40 and
so drags along with it the link 39 which is pivoted to the arm 19 fixed to the
plunger; the latter is thus rotated and raised, the springs 27 being thereby
compressed.
The action may be followed by reference to Figs. 15 and 16 which respectively
show the positions of the parts referred to when the plunger is at the bottom of
its stroke and when the plunger has rebounded and the cam 44 has caught the
roller 40. The face of the said cam is so formed that it makes contact with the
roller 40 at the point at which a line passing through the axes of the roller 40
and of the pivot of the link 39 cuts the periphery of said roller. By this means,
as the connector is dragged round, the locking roller 41 is not forced against
the guide 43 until the roller 42 comes in contact with a fixed cam plate 45 so
shaped that it deflects outwardly the free end of the connector, and causes the
roller 41 to roll into a recess 46 formed in the end of the guide 43 (see Fig. 17),
the rearward part of the cam 44 as it continues its revolution, then acting upon
the roller 40 and forcing the roller 41 well home in the recess 46 (see Fig. 18)
the formation of which is such that the roller 41 is retained therein atter the
cam 44 has passed, and the plunger 15 thus locked in the raised position, with
the springs 27 compressed ready to rotate the plunger in the direction required

page_text: to give the impression blow. The entry to the recess 46 is curved, the curve
being struck from the centre of the pivot of the connector when the latter is
in the locked position (Fig. 18) at which time the centre of the said pivot occupies
the same position as at the time the cam 44 ceases to drag the link round; thus
the roller is guided easily and without back-lash or return movement into the
locked position in the recess 46 by the outer surface of said cam 44 and yet
is securely held in the recess by the action of the springs 27.
The release of the plunger is effected by a cam or tripping piece 47 fixed
to the wheel 20 in such position that, at the proper time, it comes in contact with
the cam roller 42 (Fig. 19) and so causes the locking roller 41 to roll out of the
recess and thus free the plunger (Fig. 20), whereupon the springs 27 start it
rotating in the direction required to cause its descent. Before the impression
Llow is given the springs 27 have given out the energy stored in them, the actual
blow being given by the further descent of the fly wheel owing to the continued
.action of gravity and inertia. The upward movement of the plunger caused
by the impact of the die against the counter is therefore not resisted by the
springs 27 until a considerable part of the rebound has occurred, thereby
enabling a free blow and the quick rebound so essential to good results to be
obtained in place of a dwell blow.
Instead of forming the recess 46 so that the roller 41 is locked therein after
the passage of the cam 44 as herein before described, a stop may be provided
which will prevent the backward movement of the link 39 only so long as the
roller is kept in engagement with the stop by the rearward portion of the cam 44
bearing against the roller 40. In such an arrangement, the cam or tripping
piece 47 may be dispensed with and the length of the cam 44 increased so as to
prevent or delay for the required period the release of the roller 41 from the stop.
The lower end of the plunger 15 has secured to it a hardened steel button or
disc 48 and a cavity is formed in the die holder shank 3 to receive a loose hardened
steel cylindrical piece 49 (Fig. 23). The impact and friction are borne by these
parts, which are readily renewable when worn. By the use of pieces 49 of
different thickness the length of stroke of the plunger can be conveniently
regulated.
The plunger 15, after giving the impression blow, immediately rebounds,
upwards, and as some time elapses before the cam 44 again comes into position
to engage with the roller 40, the plunger would be liable to descend and give a
second blow unless means were provided to lock it at the end of its rebound.
For this purpose, fixed to opposite portions of the fly wheel 21 are a couple of
racks 50 having toothed undersides formed as parts of screw paths of the same
pitch as the screw 16 so that the teeth are always in position to engage correctly
with pawls 55 fixed to a spindle 56 journalled at opposite sides of the cylinder 13.
Each pawl is loaded by a coiled spring 57, one end of which is fixed to its
spindle and the other end of which is held between pins 58 so that the spring
tends to retain the pawl with its nose upward. As the plunger rebounds, the
rack teeth depress the pawls 55 against the action of the springs and slip over
them until the rebound ceases, whereupon the rack teeth are engaged by them
and the plunger thus prevented from delivering a second blow. Whilst the
1aising of the plunger is being completed as previously described the racks 50
again slip over the pawls 55 until, at the moment the plunger is locked in its
uppermost position by the locking roller 41 entering the recess 46, the racks
clear the pawls, which then assume a vertical attitude under the influence of
the springs 57.
When the plunger descends, the ends of the racks push the pawls over back-
wards (or to the left) so that the rack teeth are able to slip over them the other
ends of the racks pass the pawls before the 'blow is struck, thus allowing the
pawls to again assume a vertical attitude so that, during the rebound, the racks
again depress them and, at the end of the rebound, are again engaged by them
and a second blow prevented.

page_text: Each pawl can be turned into a position clear of the rack teeth by releasing
the end of the spring 57 from the pins 58 and inserting it between pins 59.
When the pawls are thus held in their inoperative attitude, the attendant can,
while the press is not running, form or throw up a counter quickly by óperating
by hand the flywheel which is then free to descend.
The plunger, in its descent, forces the die block 2 down against the resistance
of the springs 5 which lift the die 1 clear of the paper immediately the plunger
rebounds and before the die arm is again started.
With the above described impression mechanism friction and blow between
the parts are minimised and the press consequently runs with very little noise
or vibration.
The described arrangement for storing energy enables the blow of the die to
be regulated by varying the extent of compression of the springs, whilst the
quick free blow which is struck ensures the die completing its operative stroke
and yielding a good impression, notwithstanding give, or variation of the counter
or equivalent device arising from constant use, or variations in thickness of
paper or other material to be printed or impressed.
.
Another advantage of the quick free rebound blow is, that when the machine
is used for printing, the ink is freely delivered upon the paper, or other material
whilst leaving the edges of the engraving or other device that is printed sharp
and clear, whereas with a positive or dwell blow, especially where soft paper or
material is printed upon, the ink is liable to spit or run; furthermore the quick
rebound blow, when using soft paper or material, also has the effect of calender-
ing the surface simultaneously with the printing of the impression.
The press is provided with a lay-over automatically operated, so that after
the paper or other material to receive the impression is laid on the counter and
just as the die descends, the said, lay-over drops on the paper and is not raised
until after the die has been lifted and started to move away, thereby preventing
the said paper or other material sticking to and being lifted and carried away
by the die.
For this purpose, a pin 60 (Figs. 38 and 42) sliding vertically in a part of the
press frame, carries at its upper part, lay-over plates 61 and, at its lower end, a
plate 62 in which are mounted two rollers 63 which bear against a face 64 on
the frame and so prevent the pin 'turning, and also another roller 65 which rests
on the rim or edge of a cam-ring 66 fixed to the die arm shaft ; a depression 67
in the cam rim or edge permits the pin 60 to drop at the right moment, the
plates 61 then resting on and holding the paper down around the counter.
the impression blow has been struck and about the time the die moves away,
the inclined side of the depression 67 raises the pin and its plates 61 which are
kept raised until the depression 67 again comes under the roller 65.
After
The pin 60 has a dovetailed head (Fig. 40) and a corresponding recess is
formed in the underside of a bar 68 on which is mounted a sliding carriage 69
in a transverse groove, on which the plates 61 rest. The dovetailed head tapers
or decreases in width and the bar 68, when pushed into position thereon, is held
by a spring latch or bolt 70 which engages in a notch in the bar 68 in such a way
as to prevent accidental dislodgment of the bar but so as to yield sufficiently
readily to allow the bar to be moved by hand.
The plates 61, which are of convenient shape, for instance L-shape, are
slotted, and are fixed in position by a set screw 72 passing through each, said
screws extending through holes in the carriage 69 and through a slot in the
bar 68 into tapped holes in a sliding strip 73, the arrangement being such that
by slacking the set screws the plates 61 may be so adjusted that they encircle
the counter on the desired sides and rest upon the paper so as to keep it out of
contact with the edges of the die thus preventing transference of ink that may
be on the said edges to the paper and the spoiling of the impression. The
plates being slotted can be moved transversely on the bar and the plate carriage
being movable longitudinally along the said bar, the plates can be readily

page_text: adjusted to suit various dies. An adjustable stop 74 may be provided to
regulate the drop of the lay-over, according to the thickness of counter employed.
The mechanisin and arrangements for inking the die are illustrated in Figs. 43,
44 and 45 and comprise a frame 80 pivoted on adjustable screw centres 81
furnished with lock nuts 82 and carried by lugs on a bracket secured to the
cross tie of the lower part of the frame of the press.
The screw centres are of sufficient length to serve for accurately adjusting
the position of the frame in a direction parallel to the inking roller axis; to
admit of other adjustments the bolt or screw holes in the bracket are of elongated
form.
In the upper part of the frame 80 are two parallel holes in which slide tubes 83
fixed to a table or support 84 on which the ink reservoir 85 rests; the tubes 83
extend downwardly through holes in a plate 86 and are secured by lock nuts 87.
Springs SS are arranged around the tubes, between the top of the frame and
the table 84, the height to which it is raised by the springs being limited by a
screw 89 which abuts against a part of the frame and screws through the
plate 86 which is connected to the table 84 by the tubes 83.
Lugs 90 on the frame 80 carry adjustable screw centres 91 which so support a
nut 92 that it can swivel; through this nut passes a screw 93 journalled so
that it cannot move endwise in a bracket 94 fixed to the frame of the press.
The screw is provided with a hand-wheel and its movement is limited by
collars. By rotating the screw 93, the frame can be turned about its pivots 81
so as to adjust the position of the ink reservoir and its rollers, as required. The
screws 89 and 93 may be provided with pinching screws for locking them, when
adjusted.
The top of the ink reservoir is provided with hinged covers suitably secured
and the bottom is curved to a circular arc internally and so formed externally
as to rest securely upon the table 84; it is provided with pins 95, 95, adapted to
fit the tubes 83 and having tapering ends, as shown. As will be seen, with such
an arrangement the entire ink reservoir with its appurtenances can be quickly
removed without affecting the adjustment of its parts and be replaced or another
one containing different coloured ink substituted for it, the reservoirs etc. always
occupying the same position.
96 is a roller which dips into the ink and conveys it to the inking roller 97
above, which it drives by friction. 98 is an oscillating agitator comprising a
pair of bars 99 formed with reversely inclined teeth and suspended from screw
studs 100. The roller 96 and the agitator 98 are actuated by means of a short
rotary spindle 101 journalled in the reservoir end and carrying an eccentric 102
which rotates between parallel faces 103 on the agitator and is formed with an
axial recess adapted to receive a flange 104 on the one end of the spindle of the
roller 96, the other end of which spindle is supported by a screw centre 105
provided with a lock nut; the flange 104 is formed with a notch which fits over a
Etud 106 projecting into the recess in the eccentric and whereby the spindle is
driven.
The ends of the spindle of the roller 97 are made partly spherical and rotate
in holes formed eccentrically in plugs 107 inserted in openings in the ends of
the reservoir, whereby the ends of the roller can be adjusted independently by
turning the plugs, which are fixed by pinching screws 108.
109 is an evening roller similarly supported in adjustable plugs.
Near each end of the spindle of the inking roller 97 is freely mounted a
disc 110 of slightly larger diameter than the inking roller 97, against which,
as the die arm swings over the inking roller, adjustable guards 111 carried by
the forward jaw 6 of the die clamp come in contact so as to depress the inking
roller 97 together with the reservoir against the resistance of the springs 88
and only allow it to rise when the front edge of the die has passed, whereby the
said front or leading edge of the die is prevented from becoming charged with
ink and cutting into the inking roller 97. The guards 111 (see Figs. 32 to 37)

page_text: are carried by the ends of the clamp jaw 6 which extend beyond the die block 2
each of said ends being formed with a rectangular opening 112, in which a
guard 111 is free to slide vertically, but is confined therein by a plate 113
Secured to the end of the jaw; the guards are adjusted and supported by
screws 114 that extend into plain grooves 115 (Fig. 37) in the wall of the
opening 112, endwise motion of each screw being prevented by a semi-circular
collar 116 (Fig. 34) at the end of the groove 115 entering an annular recess 117
beneath the screw head, and the thread of the screw engages a half-nut 118
formed in the side of the guard 111. Each guard is provided with a hardened
steel wearing piece 119 with inclined forward edge as shown. The guards are
so adjusted that their horizontal under surfaces are slightly above the face of
the die, but that, when the guards 111 are in contact with the discs 110, the
inking roller is held below the die face. As soon as the guards clear the
discs 110, the springs 88 force the reservoir and inking roller up again, so that
the latter comes in contact with the die just beyond its leading edge and
therefore no ink is delivered on the front edge of the die. The die now travels
over the inking roller, which is pressed against it by the springs 88 and becomes
charged with ink.
The distance from the edge of the die to the place where the inking roller
meets its face is regulated by the adjustment of the guards; which may be
effected independently so as to suit any position of the inking roller due to the
adjustment of its eccentric bearings. The thickness of the die and the diameters
of the loose discs 110 are suitably proportioned, the diameters of the said discs
being increased if a thicker die is used and vice versa.
The rear clamp jaw is inclined as shown (Fig. 33) to prevent it making
contact with the inking roller after the die has passed the same.
By operating the screw 93, the inking roller 97 may be adjusted for different
widths of dies so that it always meets the die parallel to its front edge, and
the screw 89 serves to adjust the inking roller vertically to suit dies of varying
thickness, as well as to regulate the force with which the springs 88 press the
said inking roller against the die the screw 89 also enables the ink reservoir
and its appurtenances to be pulled down clear of the die, so that the latter can
pass over the inking roller without being inked. It will thus be seen that the
adjusting screws 93 and 89, and the adjustable guards 111, and the adjustable
eccentric bearings of the rollers 97 and 109, enable the various requirements
to be observed in charging the die with the necessary ink.
The driving spindle 101 is provided with a sprocket wheel 120 which is driven
from a sprocket wheel 121 on the belt pulley of the press; the intermediate
gear (see Fig. 3) comprises a chain 122, a sprocket wheel 123, spindles 124, 125,
a bevel wheel 126 and a pinion 127, a sprocket wheel 128, and a chain 129 and
is supported by a bracket 130 formed with bearings for the spindles 124 and 125
and with a chank 132 fitting in a socket 133 formed at the upper part of a
standard 134 attached to the press frame. The shank 132 rests on a spring
within the socket and is prevented from rotating therein, which permits the
chain 129 being easily disengaged from the sprocket wheel 120 when it is desired
to remove the ink reservoir, and also allows the reservoir to be depressed by
the die.
The hub of the sprocket wheel 128 is formed with clutch teeth to engage
with similar clutch teeth on a ring 135 that can be slidden on a feather on
the spindle 125, a spring latch pin holding it either in or out of engagement,"
As the inking apparatus is driven from the belt pulley b, when the latter is
disconnected from the shaft a to stop the press, the inking apparatus will continue
in motion, the ink thus being prevented from drying on the rollers and being
kept thoroughly mixed.
The die having been inked, the next operation of the press is to wipe or remove
from its surface all ink, except that contained in the parts which give the
impression,

page_text: For this purpose, die arm j, after leaving the inking apparatus, brings the die
over, but not in contact with, a strip 140 of hard, smooth paper or other suitable
wiping material (hereinafter called paper) stretched over a comparatively soft
and elastic pad, which may be composed of pieces of felt and card-board, carried
on a table 141. The table is then raised, pressing the paper against the die face
and so forcing the ink thoroughly into the lines thereon; while the paper is
thus pressed against the die, the continued movement of the die arm sweeps
the die over the paper in a circular path, whereby superfluous ink is removed
from the die, which is then in perfect condition for giving the impression.
The wiping apparatus is carried by a frame 142 resting on buffer springs 143
secured to the press frame, through a hole in which a stud 144 on the bottom
of the frame 142 slides.
The table 141 has a central boss 145 (shown enlarged in Figs. 51 and 52)
into which screws a stud 146 that extends through a tapering hole in the top of
the frame 142 and has a rounded head located within a tubular boss 147 on the
underside of the frame top; in the boss there is a shoulder that serves as an
abutment for and is curved to correspond with the rounded head which form's
an adjustable connection between the frame top and the table. The stud 146 is
prevented from turning after adjustment, by a pin 148 passed through a slot in
its head, and through the wall of the boss 147. Screwed into a tapped boss 149
near each corner of the frame top is a stud 150 having a worm wheel 151 gearing
with one of four parallel worm spindles 152 (Fig. 48) with conveniently situated
milled heads by operating which the compression of springs 153 contained in
tubular bosses on the underside of the table 141 and bearing on loose discs 154
resting on the ends of the studs 150 can be varied as required to adjust the
position of the table to any irregularity or want of truth in the die surface,
or to concentrate the pressure of wiping at any particular part of the die. The
springs form an elastic support to the table, enabling it to move about the central
screw stud 146 as a centre and automatically adapt itself to the die surface.
A loose plug 155 is inserted in a cavity under each of the screw studs 150 to
limit the extent of downward motion of the said studs which can be adjusted
by inserting plugs of varying lengths. In order to prevent the table being
carried forward by the action of the die as it passes across the wiping paper,
oppositely arranged lugs 156 are formed on the table and the frame top which,
while allowing the table to be forced down against the action of the springs 153
engage with each other so as to prevent forward movement.
The wiping paper consists of a long strip wound into a roll carried on a
spindle 161 carrying movable flanges 162 which can be fixed thereto by set
screws to suit varying widths of paper. Lateral spikes on the flanges enter and
grip conical wooden sleeves upon the spindle which are forced into the ends
of the paper roll, so that the said spindle is held firmly in the roll.
The spindle 161 is journalled in the forked ends of arms 163 provided with
blocks 164 which can be pressed by screws 165 against the journals of the
spindle so that any desired degree of friction can be put on it.
The paper passes upwards, over the pad on the table 141. and then down to a
waste paper roller 166 on which it is wound up as used. This waste paper
roller (see Figs. 54, 55 and 56) is made in two approximately semi-cylindrical
parts 168, 169 hinged together at 170 on one side but with a gap left between
the edges on the other side, which gap is filled by hinged pieces 171, 171 held
in place by springs 172 and provided with thumb pieces 173 so that they can be
readily displaced. when required; the hub of the roller is also formed with a
gan, as shown. The waste paper roller has a spindle 174 (see Fig. 57) carried
in bushes 175. 176 journalled in the side plates of the frame 142. These bushes
have recessed flanges 177 in which are seated friction washers 178 bearing against
the hub ends of the roller 166.
The spindle has a head 180 bearing against the outer end of the bush 176,
and the bushes, which slide on feathers on the spindle, are forced against the

page_text: ends of the hub of the roller 166 by a nut 181 so that when the spindle is rotated,
the roller is rotated by the frictional contact of the washers.
Journalled in the frame 142 above the waste paper roller, is a spindle 182
having a feed roller 183 secured thereon against which the paper 140 is pressed
by a friction roll 184 having grooves formed on its surface which convergo
towards the middle of the roll and in which are embedded strips of felt or other
suitable material which will give the necessary grip on the paper. The spindle
ends of the roll 184 are carried in spring pressed bearings 185 adjustable longi-
tudinally in arms extending from the frame 142 by means of screws 186 so as to
give the necessary pressure.
The rollers 183 and 166 are simultaneously partially rotated so as to draw
the paper over the pad on the table 141 by means of a rack bar 187 operated by
a cam 188 on the die arm shaft and engaging with partial spur pinions 189
and 190 loosely mounted on the spindle 182 and the bush 175 respectively and
provided with arms 191 carrying pawls 192 which are kept in contact by
springs 193 with ratchet wheels 194 fixed to the spindle 182 and bush 175
respectively. When the rack bar 187 is raised by the spring 195, the pawl 192
slips over the ratchet teeth, but when it is depressed by the cam 188, they engage
with the wheels 194 and simultaneously rotate the rollers 183 and 160 thus
feeding the wiping paper forward. The upward movement of the rack bar is
limited by nuts upon a screw forming a downward extension thereof and working
through an eye on the frame 142. 197 is a quadrant pivoted on the boss of the
frame 142 in which the spindle 182 rotates, and having a guard plate partly
covering the ratchet wheel 194 on said spindle; the guard can be fixed in any
required position, by a set screw 198 extending through a curved slot in the
quadrant and the feed of the paper regulated according to the size of the die by
exposing more or less teeth to the action of the pawl. The movement given to
the waste paper roller spindle always corresponds to the largest possible amount
of paper feed; for shorter feeds, or to allow for the increase in diameter as the
paper accumulates on the roller, the friction washers 178 allow the waste paper
roller to slip on its spindle, the pressure being regulated by the nut 181 to just
permit such slip and yet insure the roller taking up the waste paper and holding
it taut on the wiping pad. To prevent backlash or rotation in the wrong direc-
tion, one edge of the roller 166 is cut with ratchet teeth 199 and two spring
catches 200 in the frame 142 engage therewith..
When the roller 166 is full, the paper can be readily removed from it, the
spindle 174 being withdrawn from the frame affer releasing the nut 181, and
the roller collapsed, by pressing inwards the parts 171 (see Fig. 56).
The entire wiping apparatus is lifted to press the paper against the die by
means of a lever 201 pivoted at its outer end and having a semi-circular cavity 202
on its upper side in which the boss 147 rests. The downwardly bent inner end
of the lever carries a roller 203 resting upon the disc 204 which carries the cam.
ring 66 and the cam 188 and is fixed on the shaft k of the die arm j: the disc is
formed with a cam 205 which comes under the roller 203 and so lifts the entire
wiper at the required time.
The inner end of the lever is suitably guided and, when raised, is held by a
spring pressed hook 206 carried by it, slipping over a bar 207 upon the press
frame. An adjustable sleeve fixed by a set screw to the shaft & carries a roller 208
which, at the right time, pushes the hook 206 off the bar and allows the wiping
apparatus to drop, the cam 205 having meanwhile cleared the roller 203, the
springs 143 acting as buffers to check the fall.
As it is necessary to be able to regulate with great delicacy and precision the
height to which the wiper shall rise, so as to suit variations in the thickness of
dies, or of the wiping pad, or to vary the pressure against the die according to
its size, or the amount or nature of the work on it. the outer end of the lever 201
is inclined on its underside and rests upon a fulcrum piece 210 which can be

page_text: slidden between the jaws 209 by means of a screw 211 provided with a worm
wheel 212 engaged by a worm on a shaft 213 which extends to a convenient part
of the press where it is provided with a hand wheel 214. By rotating this hand
wheel, the fulcrum piece 210 can be very finely adjusted along the inclined
underside of the lever, the end of which; and in consequence the wiping apparatus,
are thus raised or lowered as required. This adjustment can be effected without
stopping the working of the press. Lateral and endwise movement of the
lever 201 is prevented by the jaws 209 between which it works and by a pin 216
passing through said jaws and a vertical slot in the lower end.
218 is a hand-wheel fixed upon the spindle 174 and there is another similar
hand-wheel (not shown) upon the spindle 185 of the friction roller 184; by
means of these hand-wheels the paper may be fed forward by hand. Upon the
rack bar 187 is a handle 219 for the same purpose.
220 is a waste paper guide roller carried by arms 221 fixed to the frame 142
which roller may be rigid or be covered with rubber, plush or other suitable
elastic or flexible material; 222 is a scraper-plate fixed to a bar 223 pivoted in
arms 224 and so fixed by means of pinching screws 225 that its upper edge bears
against the paper just below the roller 220 and scrapes the ink off the paper as
it is drawn down by the waste paper roller. The ink flows down the plate
and is received in a receptacle which is emptied at intervals into the ink reservoir.
In Fig. 58 the paper 140 is shown passing between the edge of the scraper
plate 222 and a weighted plate 226 faced with felt and suspended from the
arms 221; this arrangement is preferred, as although the roller 166 may be
drawing in slack paper, the plate 226 ensures it being drawn across the edge of
the plate 222. Other scraping arrangements may be employed.
The counter or other device which receives the impression blow is cemented
upon a loose metal counter plate 227 resting upon an anvil formed on the press
frame. To ensure the counter plate being rigidly held and yet capable of being
immediately removed and replaced exactly in its former position to ensure
accurate register, frames 228 are securely fastened to the anvil and are provided
with projections 228 which bear against the edges of the counter plate and locate
its position. The faces of the said projections are accurately ground and the
surfaces and edges of the counter plates are ground to gauge to an exact fit
therein so that the counter plates are all interchangeable in the said frame.
A projecting pin 229 enters a notch 2:30 in the edge of the counter plate to
prevent it being laid the wrong way on the anvil and notches 2:31 are formed on
the underside or edge of the counter plate 227 so that it can be readily raised
from the anvil by means of two small rods or levers the ends of which are
inserted in said notches.
The various parts of the mechanism of the press are so arranged and adjusted
that the sequence of operations for printing with ink is as follows:-
The impression blow having been struck, the screw plunger 15 rebounds and
is caught at the end of its rebound by the recoil pawls 55 which engage with
the racks 50 connected to the plunger. Just at the end of this rebound, or
thereabouts, the die arm locking block o is raised, the bevel teeth mand die arm
pinion come into gear and the die arm moves away; it then passes over the
inking apparatus and, continuing its motion, brings the die over the wiping
apparatus, and at this moment the latter is forced into contact with the die by
the cam 205 carried by the lower end of the die arm shaft . During the time
of passing from the inking to the wiping apparatus, the cam arm 44 on the
continuously rotating wheel 20 will have picked up the connector link 39 attached
to the plunger 15, completed its upwards motion and locked it. The die having
now passed over the wiping apparatus and been wiped, the roller 208 carried
by shaft throws the hook 206 off the bar and the wiper drops. The die being
now in position over the anvil, it is locked in register by the descent of the
locking block and the tripping piece 47 carried by the wheel 20 immediately

page_text: releases and so permits the screw plunger 15 to descend and give the impression.
Shortly after the die arm starts into motion again, the wiping paper feed is
given by the downwardly projecting cam 188 carried by the die arm shaft k.
When the press is used for plain embossing work, or relief stamping, without
ink or colour of any kind, the inking and wiping apparatus are not required, and
therefore in such cases it is not necessary for the die-arm to revolve. To provide
for this, the pinion can slide upon the main shaft a a sufficient distance to
clear the wheel i, and a set screw in the hub of the pinion enters either of
two recesses in the said shaft, so that the pinion h can be fixed in or out of
gear with the wheel as required. A long feather on the shaft a drives the
pinion, so that no strain is borne by the set screw. When therefore, plain
embossing or relief work is to be executed, it is simply necessary to slide the
pinion out of gear with the wheel the die arm then remains stationary,
while the mechanism for raising, locking and releasing the screw plunger
operates as usual to give the necessary blow. The wheel carrying cam is
placed and left in such position that the die arm locking block o remains down
holding the die arm j in register all the time.
To return to ink work, the pinion is slidden back into gear with the wheel i,
marks provided on the pinion and wheel enabling the correct teeth to be
readily brought into gear, so that the motions of the screw plunger mechanism
may be in correct time with the motion of the die arm.
I wish it to be understood that in carrying my invention into practice, I do
not necessarily confine myself to the exact details of construction herein des-
cribed, as the same may be varied within certain limits without departing
from the essential features of my invention, and, although I have herein before
described an improved construction of printing press, it is to be noted that I
have also described as parts thereof improved mechanism for inking the die, for
wiping or removing superfluous ink from the die, for holding the paper down
around the counter or other resisting device during impression and until the die
has been raised clear of it, for holding the die in the die block and for preventing
the inking device coming in contact with and charging with ink the edges of
the die, and for effecting the impression blow, which several improvements may
be respectively used in other machines than that herein described, and indepen-
dently of one another and they respectively form the subjects of separate Applica-
tions for Letters Patent by me, No. 14820, dated 18 July 1899, No. 14918,
dated 19 July 1899 and Nos. 14991, 14992 and 14993 all dated 20 July 1899.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a printing, embossing or printing and embossing press the combination
of a device adapted to give an impression, a device adapted to resist the impres-
sion blow, means for causing said devices to come in contact at the required times,
a lay-over device and means whereby said lay-over device is moved above and
below the level of the active surface of said resisting device so as, at the required
times, to release and to rest upon the material which is to receive the impression
around said resisting device and hold said material in position between said
impression and resisting devices but out of contact with the edges of the
impression device and prevent it being carried away therewith, substantially
as described.
2. In a printing, embossing or printing and embossing press of the kind in
which a die-carrying arm is fixed to an intermittently revolved shaft, the
combination with said die-carrying arm and shaft of a die adapted to give an
impression, a device adapted to resist the impression blow, means for causing
said devices to come in contact at the required times and a lay-over device
adapted to rest upon the material which is to receive the impression at the
required times so as to hold it in position between said devices but out of contact

page_text: with the edges of the impression device and prevent it being carried away
therewith, and a cam carried by said shaft and adapted to operate said lay-
over device at the required times, substantially as described.
3. In a printing, embossing or printing and embossing press of the kind in
which a die-carrying arm is fixed to an intermittently revolved shaft, the
combination with said die-carrying arm and shaft of a die, a die inking apparatus,
a die wiping apparatus, a device adapted to resist the impression blow, meaus
for causing the die to give the impression blow, a lay-over device, a cam carried
by said shaft and operating the wiping apparatus and a cam also carried by said
shaft and operating the lay-over device which is thereby moved above and
below the active face of said resisting device, at the required times, substantially
as described.
4. In a printing, embossing or printing and embossing press of the kind in
which a die-carrying arm is fixed to an intermittently revolved shaft, the
combination with said die-carrying arm and shaft of a die, a die inking apparatus,
a die wiping apparatus comprising a wiping pad and a strip of paper adapted to
be intermittently fed across said pad, a device adapted to resist the impression
blow, means for causing the die to give the impression blow, a lay-over device
and cams carried by said shaft and adapted to operate, at the required times,
the wiping apparatus and the lay-over device, and to feed the paper strip, sub-
stantially as described.
5. In a printing, embossing or printing and embossing press of the kind in
which a die-carrying arm is intermittently revolved from a continuously driven
shaft, the combination of gear for causing the revolution of said arm, means
for locking said arm in the printing position, and means for gradually setting
said die arm into motion independently of said gear, substantially as described.
6. In a printing, embossing or printing and embossing press of the kind in
which a die-carrying arm is intermittently revolved from a continuously driven
shaft, the combination with die-arm locking means of a rotary cam, a lever
nctuated by said cam, a locking block engaged by said lever fitting and sliding
in a rectangular channel in part of the press frame, a wear compensating strip
adjusted by a screw, and a projection on said die arm capable of being held by
said block, a wedge surface on said lever and another wedge surface carried by
the die arm, substantially as described.
7. In a printing, embossing or printing and embossing press the combination
with the press frame of an anvil surface, frames fixed around said anvil surface,
a fixed pin adapted to enter a recess on one side of a counter plate, the under
edges of which are recessed to receive removing tools, substantially as described.
S. In a printing, embossing or printing and embossing press of the kind in
which a die-carrying arm is intermittently revolved from a continuously driven
shaft, the combination of a die inking apparatus, a die wiping apparatus and
means for causing the die to give an impression comprising a vertical screw
plunger carrying a weighted fly-wheel and a pinion, spring-pressed racks engag-
ing said pinion and contained in tubular boxes provided with screw spindles, a
continuously rotating driving part, means for intermittently connecting said
plunger thereto and for locking and releasing the said parts, substantially as
described.
9. In a printing, embossing or printing and embossing press of the kind in
which a die-carrying arm is intermittently revolved from a continuously
driven shaft, the combination of die wiping apparatus, means for
causing the die to give an impression and an apparatus for inking
the face of an impression device comprising a reservoir formed with pins or
projections, an inking roller fed with ink from said reservoir, a vertically
adjustable spring supported table carried by the press frame, sockets formed in
said table and adapted to receive the pins or projections on the reservoir, whereby
the reservoir and its appurtenances are accurately located and secured in the exact
position required, substantially as described.

page_text: 10. In a printing, embossing or printing and embossing press of the kind in
which a die-carrying arm is intermittently revolved from a continuously driven
shaft, the combination of die inking apparatus, means for causing the die to
give an impression and die-wiping apparatus comprising a frame, wiping paper
rollers carried thereby, means for operating said rollers so as to intermittently
feed wiping paper forward and present a fresh wiping surface to the die, a table
supported on springs and provided with a pad over which the paper is drawn by.
said rollers, a lever supporting said frame, a cam carried by the die-arm shaft
and adapted to raise said lever and frame at the required times and a device for
scraping ink off the wiping paper, substantially as described.
means
11. In a printing, embossing or printing and embossing press of the kind in
which a die-carrying arm is intermittently revolved from a continuously driven.
shaft, the combination of a die inking apparatus, a die wiping apparatus
for causing the die to give an impression and a device adapted to resist the
impression blow, means for holding paper or other material whilst being operated
upon comprising adjustable plates or fingers, means for supporting and guiding
and raising above and lowering below the level of the active surface of the said
resisting device, at the required times the said plates or fingers which when
lowered, bear upon the material to be impressed around the device which is to
resist the impression blow and hold it out of contact with the edges of the die,
substantially as described.
12. In a printing, embossing or printing and embossing press of the kind in
which a die-carrying arm is intermittently revolved from a continuously driven
shaft, the combination of a die inking apparatus including a spring-supported
inking roller, a die-wiping apparatus, means for causing the die to give an
impression, clamping jaws connected to the die block of the press and capable of
being caused to grip the die and at the same time centre it under the block, the
forward or leading jaw of which is formed with laterally projecting ends fitted
with vertically adjustable guards adapted to depress the spring-supported inking
roller, substantially as described.
13. A printing, embossing or printing and embossing press, constructed,
arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to and shown
in the accompanying drawings.