IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES OR MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Office of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES OR MACHINES." A communication from
abroad by George Washington Prouty, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States
of America.
Sealed the 30th May 1879, and dated the 3rd April 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd April 1879.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Office of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES OR
MACHINES." A communication from abroad by George Washington Prouty, of
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates to that class of printing presses or machines in which a
vibrating platen is used in combination with a fixed or stationary type-bed, and it
consists, first, in the use, as a means of operating the platen of a revolving crank-
shaft, a connecting rod leading therefrom to a toothed segment which engages with
and imparts a vibratory motion to another segment secured upon a rocker-shaft
provided at each end with a crank and two draw-bars leading from said vibrating
cranks to the opposite ends of the platen.
It further consists in the employment of double trains of mechanism for moving
the platen arranged upon the outside of the frames, whereby the power is applied
directly to both ends of the platen, obviating in a great measure the difficulty
occasioned by the torsion of the shafts, thereby rendering it practical to materially
reduce the size of the shafts, and at the same time render the press more readily
accessible for cleaning and repairing in all its parts.
It further consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the mechanism for
imparting motion to the platen and inking rollers, whereby the cost of such
mechanism is materially reduced, and at the same time the operation of the press is
rendered more perfect, which consists in combining in one casting the vibrating
crank for moving the platen, the ink-roller arm, and the toothed segment through
which motion is imparted to said platen and inking rollers.
It further consists in constructing the platen-yoke in two parts, both extending
from side to side of the press and arranged to move one upon or within the other
during a portion of its movement, whereby the platen and one portion of said yoke
may be intermittently vibrated toward and from the type-bed, and remain in a state
ו.

page_text: of rest for a stated period after each backward movement, while the other portion
of said yoke is constantly moving in one direction or the other, as will be hereinafter
described.
It further consists in the combination of a platen-yoke made in two parts adapted
to be moved one upon or within the other, one of said parts being pivoted to tho
frame of the press and provided with a stirrup or bail projecting beyond said pivotal
connection, and the other part connected at each of its ends to one of the draw bars,
and a vibrating cam-shaped stop arranged to engage with a stirrup or bail or a
roller or truck connected therewith to limit the backward movement of said platen-
yoke, and adapted to gradually start said yoke and the platen secured thereto from
a state of rest in advance of the contact therewith of the constantly moving portion
of the divided yoke.
It further consists in the combination with a vibrating platen of a printing press,
of a tubular or hollow yoke, a shaft extending through the hollow of said yoke and
mounted near each end thereof in bearings fitted to and adapted to be reciprocated
in guide ways formed in the ends of said hollow yoke, and having formed thereon
outside of said bearings crank-pins or eccentrics of slight throw to receive and
form bearings for the draw-bars through which the vibratory motion is imparted to
the platen, all so arranged that a partial rotation of said shaft will throw off the
impression.
It further consists in the combination in a printing press of a vibrating platen, a
yoke made in two parts, one of which is provided with a crank-pin or eccentric at
each end thereof and adapted to be automatically moved nearer to or farther from
the face of the platen to permit the platen to remain in a state of rest while receiving
the sheet to be printed, and to be partially rotated about an axis, a pair of draw-
bars or connecting rods mounted at one end upon said crank-pins or eccentrics and
attached at their other ends to the moveable ends of a pair of radius arms or
vibrating cranks, a hand lever secured to one end of said rotary crank, bearing
portion of the platen yoke, and a quadrant provided with suitable stops to limit
the extent of vibration of said lever, and a detent notch to hold said lever in its
normal position, as hereinafter described.
It further consists in a novel construction and arrangement of mechanism for
operating the nippers for holding the sheet to the platen, whereby such devices are
very much simplified and their cost reduced, as hereinafter described with reference
to the accompanying Drawings.
It further consists in a peculiar construction of the devices for operating the ink-
distributing disc, whereby they are very much simplified and their cost reduced as
more fully hereinafter set forth.
It further consists in the combination of au ink-receptacle open at its front end
and provided with a straight edged lip cast across the bottom of said front opening
in combination with a roll mounted in said open end above said lip, and adapted to
be adjusted toward or from said lip to increase or diminish the amount of ink to be
delivered from said receptacle.
It further consists in the combination of an ink receptacle made with an open
front end and provided in the bottom of said opening with a thin upwardly pro-
jecting straight-edged lip cast with or forming a part of said receptacle; an ink-roll
mounted in bearings in an independent frame or yoke detachably secured to said
receptacle in such a position that said ink-roll shall close or nearly close said open
end of the receptacle-mechanism for imparting to said ink roll a motion about its
axis, and means for adjusting said frame or yoke, and the roll mounted therein for
the purpose of controlling the amount of ink to be delivered from the receptacle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved printing press or machine with the
fly wheel removed, and
Tico is a front elevation of the same with the food table

page_text: Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line y, y, Figures 1 and 3, shewing the
construction of the platen and its compound yoke and connecting devices.
Figure 5 is a section on the line z, z, Figures 1 and 3.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the ink-fountain drawn full size, and
Figure 7 is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 8 is a vertical section on the line x, x', Figure 6, and
Figure 9 is a vertical section on the line y', y¹, Figure 7.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
A, A, are the side frames of the press or machine connected together by the type-
bed B and tie-girts B' and B³, and having formed upon their upper portions the
guide-ways or bearers a, a, to guide the ink-rollers while passing over the form.
C is the driving shaft mounted in suitable bearings in the frames A, A, and having
formed thereon the crank C', and provided with the fly-wheel D and spur-wheel or
pinion b which meshes into and imparts motion to the larger gear-wheel c firmly
secured upon one end of the crank-shaft E mounted in suitable bearings in the
frame A, and having secured to its other end the crank d provided with the crank-
pin c. The gear-wheel c also has set therein the crank-pin fat a distance from the
centre of the shaft E, just equal to the distance of the crank-pin e from said shaft,
and in exactly the same axial line with the said crank-pin e.
F, F, are two connecting-rods or links embracing respectively the crank-pins e
and f, and connected at their other ends to the toothed segments G, G, secured upon
opposite ends of the shaft H and engaging with the toothed segments I, I, as shewn,
all being so arranged and operating that a complete revolution of the shaft E will
cause the segments I, I, to be vibrated or moved about the axis of the shaft J upon
the opposite ends of which they are mounted through an arc of about 130°, more
or less.
The segments I, I, are each provided with two radially projecting arms g and h,
as shown, the arms g having set therein the wrist-pins i to which are connected one
end of the draw-bars K, K, the opposite ends of the said draw-bars being connected
to opposite ends of the yoke-shaft Q, as hereinafter described. The arms h of the
segments I, I, each have formed therein a slot or opening ; which forms a guide-way
for the inner end of the rod k which has its bearings in the outer end of the arm h,
and has pivoted to its outer end the saddle in which is formed bearings for the
inking rollers m, m, said rollers being pressed on the type form and the ink
distributing table or disc M by the tension of the coiled or spiral spring n surround-
ing the rod k between the outer end of the slot j and the block or collar o secured
to the inner end of the rod k, as clearly shewn in Figure 1.
The platen L is adjustably secured to the platen-yoke N in the usual manner by
means of bolts and adjusting screws k¹. The platen-yoke or strengthening bar
N is made hollow as shown, and has cast therewith the stirrup or bail-arms p by
which it is pivoted to the frames A, A, at q; the said bail extends beyond the
pivotal point, and has mounted thereon the anti-friction roller or truck r which
engages with and is acted upon by the cam-shaped movable end of the vibrating
arm firmly secured upon the shaft H between the frames A, A, as shewn in
Figures 2 and 3. The stirrup or bail p and roller r serve as a partial counter-
balance to the platen and platen-yoke, and may be made of sufficient weight to
counter balance any desired portion of the weight of said parts.
Qis a steel shaft extending entirely through the tubular yoke or strengthening
bar N, and mounted in bearings at or near each end thereof in the blocks R fitted
to suitable guide-ways in the ends of the tubular yoke N, and adapted to be recip-
rocated therein in a direction at right angles to the working face of the platen, said
shaft being adapted to be partially rotated within said blocks for a purpose that
will presently appear.
The shaft Q has formed upon each end thereof outside of its bearings in the blocks
Ra wrist-pins eccentric to the main body of the shaft Q to receive the front ends
of the draw-bars K, K. The eccentric wrist-pin s at the left hand side of the
machine also has secured thereto the handle S provided with the projecting tooth t

page_text: adapted to engage with the stops u, u, at either extremity of the quadrant T and
the detent notch v formed therein, for the purpose of limiting the movement of said
lever in either direction when moved to rotate the shaft Q to throw off or on the
impression and to hold said shaft in a fixed position when the impression is on.
The nipper shaft wis mounted upon the platen in the usual manner, and the
nippers w¹ are adjustable thereon in a well known manner, but the devices for oper-
ating said nippers are a three-armed lever U secured at a' to the nipper shaft w, and
provided with a pin at a² adapted to engage with a stop, and weighted at a³ so as
to tend to throw the nippers away from the platen, and a yielding stop lever or arm
b¹ pivoted to one of the frames A and held by a spring c¹ against a stop-pin d¹, all
as shown in Figure 1.
The ink-distributing table M is mounted in a bearing in the bracket V secured
to the rear side of the type-bed B, and has firmly secured upon its shaft below said
bearing the ratchet-wheel e¹.
W is a three-armed lever loosely mounted upon the lower end of the shaft of the
ink-distributing table M; the arm f¹ of the said lever engages with a portion of
the bracket V to limit its motion in one direction, and the arm f' has attached
thereto one end of the spring g¹, the other end of which is secured to one of the ribs
on the rear side of the ink-bed B.
The third arm 3 of the lever W carries the spring-actuated reciprocating pawl h¹
which engages with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel e¹ to move the table or disc
about its axis, when the bent lever or rod X firmly secured upon the shaft J strikes
against the outer or moveable end of the arm f³ which is bent downward at right
angles to the body of said lever W, and causes said lever to be moved around its
axis of motion against the tension of the spring g¹.
The oscillating shaft H has firmly secured thereon the lever I to which is adjust-
ably attached one end of the link I', the upper end of which is pivoted to the outer
or moveable end of the pawl-lever H2 for operating the ink-roll of the fountain,
which will now be described in detail. Referring to Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the
Drawings, where the fountain is shewn full size, A¹ is the body of the fountain or
ink-receptacle composed of two vertical side walls a, and a curved bottom 6%, from
the extreme front edge of which bottom rises the thin straight edged lip c² the
upper front corners of the side walls a, a, being connected by the tie d2 all cast in
one piece, said fountain having an open front end and an open top, which latter
is closed by the lid or cover A³ hinged at d³ to the body A, as clearly shewn in
Figure 9.
Cis a bifurcated frame or yoke, each arm of which has formed thereon a boss or
hub c3 in which the shaft D', having secured thereon the roll E³, has its bearings as
shown in Figure 8. In the lower end of each arm of the frame or yoke C2 is
formed an open slot g² dividing said arm into two prongs which embrace the screw
or pin set in the lower front corner of the side a of the fountain as shown.
F is an adjusting screw mounted in the cross-bar of the frame 02 in such a
manner that while it is free to be revolved it cannot be moved endwise therein, its
threaded end engaging with a corresponding female thread formed in the tie a of
the fountain body A¹, so that by turning said screw the roll E¹ may be moved
toward or from the lip c², and thus control the amount of ink which shall be allowed
to adhere to and pass out of the fountain upon the periphery of the said roll E¹ as
it is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow.
The shaft D¹ has firmly secured to its outer end the ratchet-wheel G₁ with the
teeth of which the toe of the weighted pawl H pivoted to the radius arm or lever
H2 engages as shown.
The arm or lever H2 is mounted loosely at one end upon the shaft D¹, and is con-
nected at its other end to the link I¹ as before described, through which is imparted
to it a vibratory motion about the shaft D' whereby the roll E' is caused to be
intermittently rotated about its axis and to convey a given portion of ink adhering
thereto outside of the fountain.
J¹ is a slotted ear cast upon the fountain body A¹ to permit the fountain to be

page_text: secured in position on the press, a bolt 2 passing through the slot i', and screwing
into the stand L¹ secured upon or forming a part of one of the frames A of the press
effectually secures the fountain in position, while it may be adjusted within certain
limits by loosening said bolt and raising, lowering, or turning the fountain thereon,
and then screwing in the bolt again to clamp the ear J' hard against the stand L'.
The advantages of a fixed "doctor plate" or scraper forming an integral part of.
the ink-receptacle as herein described, are, that it saves expense, prevents leakage
of the ink, and renders the fountain less liable to get out of order, and the cleaning
of the same much easier.
M³ is a foot treadle connected by the hooked connecting rod N₁ to the crank C¹
as a means of imparting motion to the driving shaft and through it to the other
moving parts of the press or machine.
If it is desired to operate the press by steam power it is only necessary to apply
the necessary pulleys to the right hand end of the shaft C and suitable means of
shipping the belt.
The operation of my improved press or machine is as follows:-
The parts being in the positions shown in the Drawings, and the sheet to be
printed being placed upon the platen against suitable gauges (not shown) if power
is applied to the driving shaft so as to cause a rotation of the crank-shaft E, the
crank-pins e and facting upon the connecting-rods F, F, cause a partial rotation of
the segments G, G, shaft H, and the segmental stop-cam O, and the segments G, G,
acting upon the segments I, I, cause them to be partially rotated about their axis of
motion, thereby carrying the inking rollers m, m, upward over the type-form, and
partially across the ink-distributing table M, causing them to come in contact with
the roll El to receive a supply of ink therefrom, and at the same time moving the
platen L into position to give the impression, at which time the draw-bars K, K,
and arms g act as toggle joints just approaching to or upon their dead centres of
motion, and at the same time the connecting-rods F, F, and crank-pins e and f bear
the same relation to each other, thereby greatly increasing the power exerted in
giving the impression.
When the segments I, I, first begin to move, the draw-bars K, K, move the shaft
with the boxes or blocks R without disturbing the rest of the platen until just
before the forward ends of the blocks R come in contact with the end of the slot
formed in the end of the tubular yoke N, when the stop-cam O acting upon the
roller gradually and easily starts the platen from its state of rest, when said
blocks coming in contact with the yoke N the platen is then moved forward thereby
with the full strength of the combined toggle-motion.
As the platen moves forward it comes in contact with the nippers w', and
carries them forward with it, partially rotating the nipper-shaft against the tension
of the spring c', the stop lever or arm b' being moved about its pivot by the pin a³
in the lower end of the lever U, straining the spring c¹ in an obvious manner.
When the impression is completed and the crank-shaft commences the last half
of its revolution, or the crank-pins e and f begin to move upward the motions of
the segments G, G, and I, I, inking rollers m, m, and draw-bars K, K, are reversed,
and the platen L and hollow yoke N move with the draw-bars and the shaft Q
till the truck or roller r comes in contact with the concentric portion of the cam-
stop O, when the motion of the platen is arrested and remains in a state of rest
while the draw-bars and the shaft Q complete their stroke and have started back
upon their return stroke, thus giving ample time to feed the sheet while the platen
is in a state of rest.
The tension of the spring c¹, acting upon the stop-lever 6', and through it upon the
lever U, causes the nippers to move with and press hard upon the platen till the stop-
lever comes in contact with the pin d when the movement of the nippers sub-
stantially ceases and the platen moves away from them, leaving them standing in
the position shown in Figures 1 and 3, in which position they are maintained by
the counter-weight a³ and stop-lever 61, so that they can be readily brought down
on the platen to determine their proper position in an obvious manner.

page_text: When the inking rollers are making their downward movement, and when they
have just left the ink-distributing disc M the oscillation of the shaft J causes the
angular lever X to come in contact with the bent arm f³ of the lever W and move
it around its axis of motion and the pawl h', engaging with the teeth of the ratchet
wheel e¹, causes the ink-distributing disc M to be partially rotated about its axis
till the motion of the shaft H in that direction ceases, and when the motion of said
shaft is reversed the spring g¹, acting upon the arm f' of the lever W, causes it to
be moved in the opposite direction, the spring in the rear of the pawl h' yielding
to allow it to pass the teeth of the ratchet wheel preparatory to engaging with a
new tooth at the next forward motion.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The combination with the platen of a printing press or machine of a revolving
crank-shaft, a connecting rod leading therefrom to a toothed segment which engages
with and imparts a vibrating motion to another toothed segment secured upon a
shaft provided at each end with a crank and two draw-bars leading from said
cranks to the opposite ends of the platen, as above described.
Second. In combination with a vibrating platen of a printing press or machine
and two draw-bars for moving the same, a revolving crank-shaft, and a connecting
rod leading therefrom to a toothed segment which engages with and imparts a
vibratory motion to a second toothed segment mounted upon a rocker shaft pro-
vided at each end with a crank to connect with the platen draw-bars and with an
arm to carry the inking rollers, as above described.
Third. The combination in a printing press or machine of the crank-pins e and f
the connecting rods F, F, segments G, G, and I, I, the draw-bars K, K, and platen,
all arranged and adapted to operate as and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The two toothed segments I, I, each provided with the radially pro-
jecting arms g and h, the wrist pin i and slot j mounted upon opposite sides of the
machines, and adapted to impart motion to the platen and inking rollers as above
set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. In a printing press or machine a platen-yoke made in two parts, both
extending from side to side of the press, and adapted to be moved one upon or
within the other during a portion of the reciprocating movement of the draw-bars,
as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. A platen-yoke made in two parts, both extending from side to side of the
press, and adapted to be moved automatically one upon or within the other, and
provided with a stirrup or bail, by which the platen is pivoted to the frame, and
extending beyond said pivotal connection to serve as a partial counter-balance to the
platen and a cam shaped vibrating stop O adapted to engage with the said stirrup
or a roller mounted thereon as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Seventh. In combination with the platen of a printing press or machine and a
pair of draw bars for imparting to said platen a vibrating motion toward and from
the type bed, the hollow or tubular yoke N, the shaft Q, provided with excentric
wrist-pins 8, 8, and the boxes or blocks forming bearings for the said shaft, and
fitted to and adapted to be reciprocated in suitable guide-ways in the ends of the
said hollow yoke as and for the purposes specified.
Eighth. The combination of the platen, the hollow yoke, the shaft Q provided
with excentric wrist-pins and adapted to be partially rotated, the draw-bars K, K,
quadrant T, and hand-lever S, all arranged and adapted to operate as above set
forth and for the purposes specified.
Ninth. The combination with the vibrating platen of a printing press or machine
of the nipper-shaft w, weighted lever U, stop-lever b', spring c¹, and a fixed stop d¹,
all arranged and adapted to operate as above set forth.
Tenth. In combination with the ink-distributing disc the ratchet wheel e¹, the
three-armed lever W, having a portion of its arm f³ bent at right angles to the
other portion thereof and to its plane of movement, the spring-actuated pawl h¹,

page_text: the spring g', and the angular lever X, all arranged and adapted to operate as above
set, forth and for the purposes specified.
Eleventh. The combination in an ink-fountain for printing presses or machines
of an ink-receptacle formed with an open front end, and provided with a straight-
edged lip projecting upward from the extreme front of its bottom, of which it forms
a part, and an ink-roll mounted within said open front end of the receptacle above
said lip, and adapted to be adjusted toward or from said lip as above set forth and
for the purposes specified.
Twelfth. In an ink-fountain, a fixed or non adjustable "doctor plate," or scraper,
in combination with an ink-roll adapted to be adjusted towards or from said
"doctor plate" as above described.
Thirteenth. The combination of an ink-receptacle formed with an open front
end and an ink roll mounted in bearings in an independent frame or yoke,
detachably secured to said receptacle, and adapted to be readily and easily discon-
nected therefrom, to render the ink receptacle more easily accessible for cleaning, as
above described.
Fourteenth. The combination of the receptacle provided with the fixed "doctor
plate" or scraper, the frame or yoke C2, the roll E, and adjusting screw, all con-
structed, arranged, and adapted to operate as above set forth and for the purposes
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
H. H. LAKE. (L.S.)