IMPROVEMENTS IN INKING PRINTING TYPES WITH ROLLERS, AND IN PLACING AND CONVEYING PAPER ON TYPES, AND IN INKING WITH A CYLINDER
Year: 1820

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
WATTS, of Crown Court, Temple Bar, in the County of Middlesex, Printer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty George the Fourth did, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fifteenth day of May, in the
first year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said Richard Watts, my
exors, adiñors, and assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Richard Watts, my exors, adiñors, and assigns,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INKING
PRINTING TYPES WITH ROLLERS, AND IN PLACING AND CONVEYING PAPER ON TYPES, AND
IN INKING WITH A CYLINDER;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a
proviso, that if I, the said Richard Watts, shall not particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and
cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within four calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advan-
tages whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly cease, determine, and become

page_text: void, as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, will more fully and
at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Richard Watts, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawing hereunto annexed, and the following
description thereof (that is to say) :-
I ink the types by means of one, two, or more rollers (which I prefer to be
made of the elastic composition now in general use), and which roller or
rollers is or are fixed in and upon a moveable frame or carriage, which also
carries the contrivance which I substitute in place of the ordinary tympan and
frisket, and upon which the paper is conveyed on and off the types. These
elastic rollers ink the types twice previous to the impression being made, and
then come into contact with the inking cylinder, which affords them a fresh
supply of ink.
One method of carrying this Invention into effect will be fully shewn by the
Drawing and references thereto, which, as aforesaid, accompanies the Speci-
fication, and in which Drawing the same letters and figures refer to the same
parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 is a front view of a printing machine which this Invention applied to
it; Fig. 2, a plan of the same; Fig. 3, an end view, taken on the left-hand
side of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4, an end view of some of the parts, only taken
on the opposite side of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a sketch in outline of the inking
apparatus; Fig. 6, an end view of the pressing cylinder and weights, the two
Jast Figures being drawn on a scale of double the size of the other Figures;
and Fig: 7, a view of the catch spring, &c.,
I..
A, A; &c. is the frame or support of the machine; B, B, &c. the rails on
which the carriage runs; C, C, the carriage, moving on two friction rollers
affixed to it, one of which is shewn by dotted lines at D, in Figs. 1 and.5, and
upon two others fixed in the rails B, B, of the machine, and one of which is
represented by dotted lines at E, in Fig. 1; and both of them at E, E, in
Fig. 2. On one end of the carriage c, c, are fixed the inking rollers F, F, the
necks or pivots of which turn in the brasses G, G, fixed in the headstocks
H, H, on each side of the frame C, C, and which have adjusting screws. I, I,
to regulate the pressure of the rollers F, F, upon the types. JJ, &c. are four
studs fixed in the carriage C, C, which guide the frame K, K, by passing
through holes made in that frame to receive them, and have screwed nuts L, L,
upon them to prevent the frame K, K, from being thrust or lifted off from
them by the action of the two double springs underneath it, one of which

page_text: springs is shewn at M in Fig, 1, and a part of it in Fig. 5, and which are
fixed on each side of the carriage C, C, by screws. On the upper side of the
frame K, K, is placed the paper which is to receive the impression, and it is
fitted up with points N, N, &c. to form the register, and which points can be
fixed in any of the slits O, O, &c. made in the frame K, K, to receive them:
When this frame having paper upon it is pushed over the types the paper is
suspended aloof or kept from touching them by the action of the springs M, M;
underneath them, but which yield or give way when the impression is to be
made. In Figs. 1 and 2 the frame K, K, is represented as being withdrawn
from over the types, having once inked them, by the action of two rollers F, F,
upon them, and the frame is now ready to receive the paper to be printed. In.
returning the frame K, K, with the paper upon it, these rollers will again ink.
the types, and pass beyond them to their inking or feeding rollers P (and
which roller I prefer to make of wood), in order to receive a fresh supply of
ink therefrom, as shewn at Fig. 5. The necks of the feeding roller P turn
in brasses Q, Q, fixed in the headstock R, R, affixed to the frame of the
machine, and it receives its ink from the elastic roller S, the necks of which
also turn in brasses T, T, fixed in the headstock R, R, and this elastic roller S:
is supplied with ink from the metal ductor roller U, whose necks turn in the:
brasses V; V, of the headstock R, R, and the ductor roller U is fitted up with
a trough W to hold the ink, a ductor X and adjusting screws Y, Y, &c. to `it
as usual. On one end of the axis of the ductor roller U is fixed a toothed
bevil wheel Z by the set screw a in its socket: This wheel can be withdrawn.
occasionally out of contact with two others b & c, by loosening the screw a
of the socket, and then the rollers F, F, P, S, and U may have the ink;
uniformly diffused over them by turning the ductor roller U, by means of the
winch or handle d, affixed on the other end of its axis for that purpose. The
bevil wheels 6 & c are affixed to a sliding socket e by two screws f and 9, and
their distance from each other must be so adjusted, as that when the wheels
Z and b are in contact, or engaged with each other, the wheel c shall be entirely.
free and out of contact with the wheel Z, and vice versa. The contrivance for
effecting this change will be described hereafter. The sliding socket e.is fitted
upon the cylindrical end of the axis h, h, which has a tongue let into it, which
also fits into a groove in the socket e, and prevents it from turning round
upon the axis h, h. The necks or pivots of this axis are supported in brasses
fitted into the headstocks i, i, affixed to the frame of the machine A, A. On
the other end of the axis; h, h, is affixed the winch or handlej, by which motion.
is communicated to the machine. Upon the axis h, h, are likewise fixed the
two band wheels k, k, around which are passed two bands of gut or cord, one

page_text: of which is shewn at 1, 1, in Fig. 3. One end of each of these bands is passed
underneath one of two guide pullies, one of which is shewn at m in Fig. 3,
and over one of two others n, n, and are then affixed by knobs to two band
wheels o, o, which are fived upon each end of an axis p, p, which carries the
pressing cylinder q. The other ends of these bands pass over two other guide
pullies r, r, to the two band wheels o, o, and after the passing twice round them
are affixed thereto by knots, the ends of the bands being passed through holes
made in the band wheels o, o, for that purpose, and the knobs being made in
the insides of the band wheels, as shewn at s, s, in Fig. 3. In order to tighten
the bands when necessary, the axis's of the two pullies m, m, are supported in
sliding brackets, one of which is shewn at t in Fig. 3, and which can be
adjusted by the screws whicli affix them to the frame A, A, of the machine.
On each end of the axis of the pressing cylinder p, p, are likewise fixed two
wheels n, n, having projecting rims of the same diameter as the pressing cylinder
9, which are made rounding, and roll in two grooves on the upper sides of the
frame A; A, as shewn in the plan of the machine, Fig. 2, at v, v, and in the
outline sketch, Fig. 5, at v, to preserve the lineal action of the pressing cylinder
and to support it: These wheels have likewise cylindrical surfaces w, w, which
touch or roll upon moveable bearers of metal x, x, &c., placed by the sides of
the grooves v, v, and so situate as to be opposite to the spaces or margins
between the pages of types, and their office is to support the weight of tho
pressing cylinder 7 in its passage over the said spaces, and which otherwise
would injure those types adjoining to the said spaces or margins. The metal
bearers x, x, &c., are fixed to the sides of the frame A, A, by means of the screw.
y, y, &c., which screw into holes made in the frame A, A, to receive them, and
pass through slits made in the bearers to adjust them accurately in their
situations, the slits being long enough to allow the bearers to be moved side-
ways, either way, as required. The pressing cylinder q is to be clothed with
one or more blankets, and a covering of brown holland or other proper linen
cloth over the blanket, the blanket being only wrapped, around the cylinder,
and secured by means of the ends of tho linen covering being laced or stitched
together, the use of these coverings being to afford a proper degree of elasticity
on the surface of the pressing cylinder. The table on which the form of types
lies is made of metal, and rests upon four or more screws, which pass through:
projections made in the frame A, A, two of which are shewn at z, z, in Figs.
1 and 3. These screws, serve to adjust the height of the table and types, so
as that a sufficient degree of pressure may be made upon them by the pressing
cylinder 9 over them, and the form is secured in its place upon the table by
quoins or wedges, as usual. As it is necessary that the elastic rollers F, F,

page_text: should receive fresh supplies of ink as well as the other rollers from time to
time, this is effected at the period when the pressing cylinder is rolling over the
types, by means of the reversing geer throwing the bevil wheels b, & c, into
action with the bevil wheel Z alternately, by which the motion of the ductor.
cylinder or roller U is continually maintained in one direction, notwithstanding
that the handle or winch j is turned alternately in contrary directions in order.
to move the pressing cylinder q backwards and forwards over the types. The
reversing geer is actuated by means of the forked lever 1, and its ring, which
acts in a groove made around the sliding socket e to receive it. This lever 1
turns upon the stud 2 as a fulcrum, and its other end rests upon the spring 3,
and is guided in a vertical direction by a gap or cleft formed at 4 on the piece
5, which is affixed to the frame A, A; this spring 3. is sufficiently strong to.
raise up the end 6 of the forked lover 1 after it has been depressed, and to push-
the sliding socket e along the axis h, until the bevil wheel 6 is engaged with the
bevil wheel Z, and to retain it there when in use. 7 is a bent lever, moving
upon the stud 8 at one end as a fulcrum, and passing through a vertical slit in.
the piece 5 as a guide, and having a handle 9 at the other end of it: When
the handle 9 is depressed, that part of the lever at 7 forces down the end 6.
of the lever 1, and draws the sliding socket e together with the bevil wheel c
along the axis h, until the bevil wheel c is engaged in the wheel Z, and the other
bevil wheel b is consequently disengaged, as is shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The
end 6 of the lever 1 is retained in its depressed situation by being received into
a square gap or notch 10, made in one side of a spring 11, affixed to the frame
A, A, the upper and lower sides of the notch 10 being formed of two inclined
planes, as shewn in Fig. 7. 12 and 18 is another bent lever, also moving on the
stud 8 as a fulcrum, the end 13 of which is depressed by the action of the
pressing cylinder q when moved into the situation shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3;
the other end of it, which is guided in a slit in the piece 5, has a friction.roller'
14 turning on a stud fixed on one side of it, which friction roller forces back
the spring 11 by passing up the lower inclined plane upon it, and releases the
end 6 of the lever 1 from the gap or notch 10 in the spring 11, and it is then
raised up by the action of the spring. 3 underneath it into its former situation,
as before described. In order to lessen the concussion occasioned by the.
stoppage of the wheels w, w, on the axis of the pressing cylinder 9 against the
ends of the frame A, A, those parts are covered with four elastic cushions
15, 15, 15, 15, secured to them by means of strings. The pressing cylinder q
is loaded inside, more or less, as may be required, by putting in or taking out
the blocks or bars of metal 16, 16, &c., which have screwed holes in their ends
to receive the screws 17, 17, &c., which pass through holes made in the arms at

page_text: each end of the cylinder, and when necessary, the interstices between the blocks
may also be filled up with other blocks or bars of metal properly secured
therein, so as to balance equally on all sides of the axis. Two inclined planes
are placed upon the frame of the machine at 18, 18, over which the carriage
C, C, passes, and which elevate that end of it on which the inking rollers F, F,
are fixed in their journies to and from the feeding roller P, sufficiently to allow
the rollers F, F, to pass freely over the side of the frame A, A, and over the
bearers thereto annexed.
Having thus described one method of carrying my said Invention into effect,
I now proceed to declare that I do not mean or intend hereby to limit myself
to this particular method only, but to avail myself of every other means by
which my said horizontal carriage and the inking rollers connected with it can
be applied to the purposes of printing, whether by means of a pressing cylinder
or by presses with flat surfaces or plattens.
I also hereby claim the Invention and application of a wooden cylinder for
the equalization or distribution of the printing ink over the elastic roller or
rollers in lieu of the flat surfaces of wood or metal which have hitherto been
employed for that purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Watts, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our
"Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty.