IMPROVEMENTS IN PLATE PRINTING PRESSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Neale, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York,
United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLATE
PRINTING PRESSES."
Sealed the 15th September 1877, and dated the 3rd May 1877.
Sealed the 15th September 1877, and dated the 3rd May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Neale at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd May 1877.
ROBERT NEALE, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States of
America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLATE PRINTING PRESSES." }
In the press the steel or other plate rests upon a bed, and there are adjustable
clamps, by means of which the position of the plate can be varied, to bring the point
of impression from the roller correctly upon the engraving.
The bed is reciprocated within the frame of the press by means of a pinion
revolving in contact with a circular wheel having an opening through it, and
internal as well as external teeth, similar to a mangle wheel, and the bed is moved
by a wheel on the shaft of the mangle wheel gearing to a rack on the bed.
The impression cylinder is made with a gripper to sieze the advancing edge of
the paper. I use a shell bolster, consisting of a thick blanket, of a size adapted to
the plate; this is covered with a blanket going around the impression roller. The
plate is passed along beneath polishing and wiping cylinders that are lifted, and it
reaches an inking roller that is brought down upon the engraved part of the plate
and inks the same thoroughly. As the bed and plate go back again towards the
impression roller, the wiping and polishing cylinders are lowered and act upon the
plate; the first cylinder wipes off the surplus ink, the second cylinder polishes it.
The wiping cylinder is made of a cylinder of leather between two heads that are
moved apart to strain the leather, and there are internal longitudinal bars all around
inside the leather that support the same; these are moveable, so as to make the
surface of the cylinder accurate. The ink is scraped off the leather of this wiper,
and there are belts that serve to wipe off the ink from such cylinder.
The polishing cylinder is made of similar adjustable longitudinal bars, but they

page_text: are separately covered with flexible material, and there are belts that revolve in
contact with the surfaces and keep them clean, and these polishers act to prepare
the plate for printing.
There is a provision in the impression roller for preventing the impression being
blurred, and for producing a perfect register, the cylinder being held in position by
yielding connections between itself and the gear wheel that is in contact with the
rack upon the bed of the press.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Neale in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd November
1877.
ROBERT NEALE, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States of
America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLATE PRINTING PRESSES."
In the press the steel or other plate rests upon a bed, and there are adjustable
clamps, by means of which the position of the plate can be varied to bring the point
of impression from the roller correctly upon the engraving.
The bed is reciprocated within the frame of the press by means of a pinion
revolving in contact with a circular wheel, having an opening through it, and
internal as well as external teeth, similar to a mangle wheel, and the bed is
moved by a wheel on the shaft of the mangle wheel, gearing to a rack on
the bed.
The impression cylinder is made with a gripper to seize the advancing edge
of the paper.
I use a shell bolster, consisting of a thick blanket, of a size
adapted to the plate; this is covered with a blanket going around the impression
roller. The plate is passed along beneath the polishing and wiping cylinders that
are lifted, and it reaches an inking roller that is brought down upon the engraved
part of the plate and inks the same thoroughly. As the bed and plate go back
again towards the impression roller the wiping and polishing cylinders are lowered,
and act upon the plate; the first cylinder wipes off the surplus ink, the second
cylinder polishes it.
The wiping cylinder is made of a cylinder of leather, between two heads that are
moved apart to strain the leather, and there are internal longitudinal bars all around
inside the leather that support the same; these are movable, so as to make the surface
of the cylinder accurate. The ink is scraped off the leather of this wiper, and there
are belts that serve to wipe off the ink from such cylinder.
The polishing cylinder is made of similar adjustable longitudinal bars, but they
are separately covered with flexible material, and there are belts that revolve in
contact with the surfaces and keep them clean, and these polishers act to prepare
the plate for printing.
There is a provision in the impression roller for preventing the impression being
blurred, and for producing a perfect register, the cylinder being held in position by
yielding connections between itself and the gear wheel that is in contact with the
rack upon the bed of the press.
In the Drawing,-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the press complete; Fig. 2 is an end view, partially in
section, of the cylinder for wiping the engraved plate; and
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the same.
"
4 is an end view, partially in section, of the polishing cylinder;
and
"
5 is a partial longitudinal section of the same.
"
6 is a sectional elevation of the adjustable bed for the engraved plate.
"
7 is a cross section of the impression cylinder.
"
8 is a sectional elevation at the end of the impression cylinder showing the

page_text: means for rotating the cylinder, and for bringing the cylinder to its proper position
after each impression.
"
9 represents the wheel and pinion for reciprocating the bed.
a is the frame of the press, and this is of the desired size and shape to receive the
various parts. b is the bed which receives the engraved plate, and said bed is
moved back and forth by the wheel c acting upon a rack d on the under side of the
bed. The wheel c receives its movement first in one direction, and then in the
other, from the wheel e and pinion f, shown in Fig. 9. The wheel e is upon the
same shaft (h) as the wheel c, and the teeth of said wheel e are in a flange that
projects from the face of the wheel, or its rim, and are similar to a circular range of
parallel pins, so that the pinion f can either mesh into the wheel internally, as
shown by full lines, or externally, as represented by dotted lines in Fig. 9.
At one place in the wheel e the teeth are removed, and there are semicircular
guides 2, 2, at this place; one guide acts to hold the pinion f to the end tooth of
the row as the said pinion passes from the inside to the outside of the wheel e, and
the other to make said pinion travel from the outside to the inside of said wheel, by
which means the pinion f revolves the wheel e almost a complete revolution, first in
one direction and then in the other, and the wheel c being on the same shaft as the
wheel e receives a similar movement, and communicates a reciprocating movement
to the bed b.
To allow for the slight lateral movement of the pinion fits shaft i is in bearings
pivoted at ¹, and there is a slotted support for this shaft near said pinion.
The engraved plate k, Figs. 1 and 6, is secured to the bed 7, which latter is sup-
ported by the bed b, and slides in grooves therein. A screw rod m extends from
the bed 1, and passes through a guide 3 on the bed b, which permits of the bed l
being moved to the proper position upon the bed b with respect to the impression
cylinder, and by the nuts 4, 4, the bed is securely held in place.
One edge of the engraved plate & passes under the beveled edge of a fixed plate n
on the bed 1, and the opposite edge passes beneath the beveled edge of a movable
plate n¹, which latter is connected to a nut o, through which passes the screw p.
By revolving the screw p the movable plate n¹ is brought against the end of the
plate k, and firmly clamps the plate between itself and the fixed plate n; this
arrangement allows of different sized plates being secured to the bed l.
As the bed b is moved forward the engraved plate passes beneath the impression
cylinder I, polishing cylinder P, and wiping cylinder W (the two latter being raised
at this time, as hereafter explained), and the plate is inked by a roller that receives
its ink from a fountain at 8 of usual construction.
The ink roller is upon a lever arm s¹ pivoted at t, and at the opposite end of
the lever is a small roller u in adjustable bearings, which is acted upon by an incline
upon the side of the bed b to press the ink roller upon the plate and ink it. A
spring upon the rod t serves to return the roller to place after the roller u passes
off the incline. This roller applies ink to the plate as it passes in both directions
under the roller. As the bed 6 and engraved plate are moved back the latter first
passes beneath the wiping cylinder w, which is now lowered, and it removes the
surplus ink from the plate. This wiping cylinder is upon a revolving shaft a', fitted
with heads that are made with numerous radial slots for the reception of the ends
of the parallel longitudinal presser bars c, c', and there are radial screws d' in said
heads that rest against the inner surfaces of the presser bars near their ends, by
means of which they are adjusted to a greater or less distance from the axis of the
cylinder, and the heads may be more or less open to lessen the weight.
The wiping surface /* is preferably of leather, with felt or other elastic material
between such leather and the surfaces of the presser bars c', as seen at k*. The
ends of the leather or other wiping material hª are connected to the edges of the
heads b in any convenient way, and one or both of the heads are movable endwise
of the shaft a and screw acting against a head fixed upon the shaft a* are used to
tighten the cylinder of leather endwise in the direction of the axis. The presser

page_text: .
bars c, c, set out the leather so as to make it operate with a uniform pressure upon
the engraved plate and wipe all parts of the plate alike.
There is a zig-zag or inclined cam upon the shaft at that acts against a stationary
pin or stud upon the frame a, so as to give an end movement to the shaft a* and
its cylinder as they are revolved, so that the engraved plate is wiped with
uniformity.
A scraper at t removes the ink from the wiping cylinder w, and it is preferable
to employ a moving belt be to wipe the cylinder w; this belt passes around the
rollers or drums 8, 9, and a tightener is provided at 10 to keep the belt under the
proper strain, and in contact with the cylinder w. The engraved plate is next
carried beneath the polishing cylinder P, which is lowered at the same time as the
wiping cylinder w, and said cylinder P is upon a shaft ps, and is formed of a number
of segmental polishing surfaces po, see Figs. 1, 4, and 5. The polishing surface is
of leather, resting upon a layer of felt or other elastic material p³ upon the presser
bar t, and one end of the leather is secured to the cross bar to, that is bolted to the
heads t, t, and the other end is drawn upon by a contractile or other spring us to
keep the leather under the proper tension. The presser bars are adjusted by the
radial screws t to bring the polishing surfaces upon the same circular line.
The surfaces of the cylinder P in contact with the engraved plate travel in the
opposite direction to the movement of the engraved plate, and very rapidly, and
the surfaces p' press lightly upon the engraved plate, and remove ink and grease
from the surface and thoroughly polish the plate.
The polishing surfaces po revolve against a moving belt p³ that removes the ink
from them and keeps them clean, and this belt is kept clean by the revolving brush
13, and vibrating brush 14.
The belt p passes around the rollers 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, and drum 24,
and it is preferable to arrange these rollers as shown, and to employ a belt tightener
made of the levers 59 at each side frame, pivoted at 88 to adjustable blocks clamped
to the frame a, and to place the roller 38 between the two levers 59, and to provide
a weight at the outer end of each lever, so that the belt is always kept under the
proper strain.
The shafts a' and p³ of the wiping and polishing cylinders are in boxes at the
upper end of the vertical bars 27, 28, that are fitted to slide in the frame a, and
these rods and boxes are sustained by the adjusting screws 87, 89, resting upon the
rockers 29, 30, which are connected by the rod 31 that is moved endwise by a cam
32 on to the shaft 33, to raise said cylinders when the bed b is moving forward and
to lower them when the bed is moving backward.
The engraved plate after leaving the polishing cylinder is finally carried beneath
the impression cylinder I. This cylinder is upon a shaft i in adjustable bearings i³,
and one portion of the cylinder, lengthwise of its axis, is depressed or removed to
allow room for the gripper and other parts, see Fig. 7. The surface of the
cylinder is covered by the blankets 7, 8, which are secured firmly at one edge by
clamps and bars at oº, and they are kept under the proper tension by the springs 2
hooked to the other edge. The gripper extends the entire length of the cylinder I,
and at one end there is a bracket, which allows of its being pivoted at 41 to the
heads of said cylinder.
at 43.
Upon the outside of one of the heads there is a rod 42 fitted to slide in guides,
as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7, and said rod is connected to the gripper
A helical spring surrounds this rod and tends to keep the gripper closed, as
shown in said Fig. 7, and holds the edge of the sheet to be impressed between the
inner face of the gripper and the blanket upon the roller.
The gripper is opened to allow for the insertion of the edge of the sheet by
means of the bent lever 45 actuated at the proper time by a cam 46 upon the
shaft 33.
The impression cylinder is revolved to give the impression by a rack 56, see
Fig. 8, upon the side of the bed b acting upon the segmental gear wheel 47 that is

page_text: secured to one of the heads of said cylinder; and there is a spring pawl 48
pivoted at 50 that drops behind the end of the rack 56 as the bed b is moved back-
ward, and ensures the impression cylinder being stopped at the proper point. As
an additional means of security for stopping this cylinder at the proper point,
I make use of a disk 51, see Fig. 8, secured upon the shaft it, and placed adjacent to
the gear wheel 47; and in this disk there is a semicircular notch into which springs
a roller 52, when the notch arrives opposite it; this roller is upon an arm connected
to the vertical sliding bar 53, upon which is a helical spring that tends to keep the
arm and roller towards the disk 51. The spring pawl 48 is acted upon by the end
of the rack 56 as the bed moves forwards, and commences the movement of the
impression cylinder.
The usual gauge is provided upon the feed board 54 to position the sheet, so that
it will be taken by the gripper; and when printing in more than one color, I make
use of register points 61 that are upon adjustable sleeves on the lever arms 66,
which are secured to the cross bar 67 that forms a pivot or center for the arms
to swing from, and one arm of the lever is connected to the rod 68 that is actuated
by a cam on the shaft 33, so that the register points will be projected at the
proper time through holes in the feed board to allow of the sheet being positioned,
and then drawn down to permit of the sheet being drawn away by the gripper
and impression cylinder. The arms 66 are adjustable upon the rod 67 to bring the
register points nearer to or further from each other.
The main shaft a³ gives motion by a worm wheel and pinion to the shaft 33, and
the usual pulleys and belts are employed to rotate the various cylinders and drums
of the press.
By placing the gripper is within the depression in the cylinder I, and within the
line of the surface of said cylinder there is no danger of the sheet being injured by
the gripper, and the slight notch in the cylinder at the place where the gripper clamps
the sheet permits of the extreme edge of the sheet being clamped and securely held,
which is a great advantage where there is but a small margin to the sheet.
I claim as my Invention,-
First. The bed b and rack d, in combination with the pinion f, wheels c &
shaft h, for reciprocating the bed b as specified.
c, and
Second. The bed sliding in grooves upon the bed b in combination with the
guides 3, screw m, and nuts 4, 4, for securing the bed 7 in place as specified.
Third. The wiping cylinder having heads 6, presser bars c*, and radial screws d⭑
separately adjustable to sustain the bars c* at the desired distance from the axis of
the cylinder, in combination with the elastic material * and covering h*, for the
purposes and substantially as specified.
Fourth. The polishing cylinder having heads t, presser bars 15, and separate
radial adjusting screws 8, in combination with the elastic material upon the pressar
bars t, and the covering p, kept under tension by springs u³, substantially as and
for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The shafts a', p, supported in bearings fitted to move vertically in
combination with the levers 29, 30, rod 31, cam 32, and shaft 33, for raising and
lowering the cylinders P & W, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. The impression cylinder I, provided with the gripper ³, pivoted at 41, and
connected to the rod 42, in combination with the bent lever 45, actuated by the cam
46 and shaft 33 for opening the gripper, as specified.
Seventh. The rack 56 upon the bed b, and gear 47 upon the shaft of the cylinder
I, for revolving said cylinder, in combination with the spring pawl 48, substantially
as and for the purposes specified.
Eighth. The register points 61 upon lever arms 66, pivoted at 67, in combination
with the rod 68, and cam for actuating the same, substantially as specified.
Ninth. The combination in a press for printing from engraved plates of a recipro-
cating bed, an inking roller, a wiping roller, a polishing roller, and means for
raising and lowering such wiping and polishing rollers, substantially as set
forth.

page_text: Tenth. The impression cylinder I, with a depression or cavity lengthwise of its
axis, in combination with the gripper within said depression, substantially as and
for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Neale, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Tenth day of October. A.D. 1877.
ROBERT NEALE. (L.S.)
Witnesses,
CHAS. H. SMITH, 76, Chambers Street, New York.
HAROLD SERRELL,
"
"
".