IMPROVEMENTS IN WHETTING OR SETTING 'PRINTERS' DOCTORS,' AND OTHER STRAIGHT-EDGED TOOLS OR INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hudson, of Halifax, in the County of York,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHETTING OR SETTING
'PRINTERS' DOCTORS,' AND OTHER STRAIGHT-EDGED TOOLS OR INSTRUMENTS."
Sealed the 10th March 1857, and dated the 11th September 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hudson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th September 1856.
I, JAMES HUDSON, of Halifax, in the County of York, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHETTING
OR SETTING PRINTERS' DOCTORS,' AND OTHER STRAIGHT-EDGED TOOLS OR INSTRU-
HENTS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates cheifly to apparatus used in cylinder printing ma-
chinery for printing textile fabrics, commonly known as "doctors," which are
straight-edged blades or knives applied to the rollers for removing the super-
fluous color therefrom as the said rollers rotate, and also for cleaning them from
lint. Heretofore the "whetting" or "setting" of such blades has been effected
by filing with files and by rubbing with oilstones by hand untill the proper
edge was obtained, which process was necessarily tedious, and the true and
straight edge required was difficult to obtain.

page_text: My improvements consist in the employment of a rotating grindstone instead
of files, supported on suitable framework, and a carriage or apparatus for holding
the blade, capable of sliding or travelling to and fro, or reciprocating upon a
true rectilinear bed in connection herewith, and operated by suitable driving
apparatus. The blade is caused to traverse in contact with the edge of the
rotating grindstone from end to end of the said blade, whereby I obtain a true
straight edge, and the apparatus being capable of adjustment, I can set the
blades to any required angle or bevil edge. I also mount a number of oil-
stones on the ends of spindles, capable of rotating, and apply them in such way
that the said blade may reciprocate or traverse in contact therewith in like
manner as on the grindstone. This apparatus may be driven by hand or
power, and may be applied to the grinding any straight-edged tools or instru-
ments.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Hudson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HUDSON, of Halifax, in the County of York, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Hudson, Her special licence that I, the said James Hudson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Hudson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHETTING OR
SETTING PRINTERS' DOCTORS,' AND OTHER STRAIGHT-EDGED TOOLS OR INSTRU-
MENTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Hudson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Hudson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
My Invention relates chiefly to apparatus used in cylinder printing ma-
chinery for printing textile fabrics, and commonly known as "doctors," which
are straight-edged blades or knives applied to the rollers for removing the
superfluous colour therefrom as the said rollers rotate, and also for cleaning
them from "lint." Heretofore the "whetting" or setting of such blades has
been effected by filing with files, and by rubbing with oilstones by hand, until
the proper edge was obtained, which process was necessarily tedious, and the
true straight edge required was difficult to obtain.
My improvements consist in the employment of a rotating grindstone, instead
of files, supported on suitable framework, and a carriage or apparatus for
holding the blade or "doctor," capable of sliding or travelling to and fro, or
reciprocating upon a true rectilinear bed in connection herewith, and operated
by suitable driving apparatus. The blade is caused to traverse in contact with
the edge of the rotating grindstone from end to end of the said blade,
wheby obtain a true straight edge, and the apparatus being capable of
adjustment, I can set the blades to any required angle or bevil of edge. I
also mount a number of oilstones on the ends of spindles, to which I give
simultaneous rotary motion, and apply them in such a way or manner that the
said blade or "doctor" may reciprocate or traverse in contact therewith, same
as on the grindstone. The apparatus may be driven by hand or power, and
applied to the grinding of any straight-edged tools or instruments.
My said Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accompany-
ing two Sheets of Drawings, and the figures and letters of reference thereon,
the same letters referring to the same parts in each figure.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a front elevation, Fig. 2 an end elevation and Fig. 3
a plan of the machine or apparatus which I employ for the grinding of such
tools or instruments, instead of using files.
Part of Fig. 3 is broken away, in
order to shew more clearly the under parts. a is the grindstone, which is sup-
ported or hung in a frame or trough, hinged at 6 to the main framing of the
machine, the other end being suspended by a chain c from a pulley fixed on a
shaft, on which is also fixed a worm wheel d, by means of which and the worm
and handle e the grindstone can be raised or lowered, thus adjusting it to the

page_text: edge of the blade or "doctor," which is seen fixed in the "shears "f, and
resting on pivots in the carriage g, which is adjusted to the required angle or
bevil of edge by means of the set screw or clutch h. The carriage is mounted
on a true rectilinear bed, on which it is capable of sliding from end to end,
reciprocatory motion being communicated thereto from the grindstone, through
the medium of the pullies and cord i, to the worm and wheel j, (or by a strap.
chain, or other suitable means,) which, by means of a stud or crank pin and
connecting rod k, the segment wheel is caused to oscillate to and fro, which
turns the pinion wheel m backwards and forwards, and also the chain wheel
and chain n, which is attached to the carriage at each end, passing over or
around the pulley o, thus producing reciprocating motion of the said carriage,
traversing the edge of the blade or "doctor" (or other tool or instrument)
across the face of the rotating grindstone, whereby a perfectly straight edge is
obtained at any desired angle or bevil.
Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a front elevation, Fig. 5 is an end elevation, Fig. 6 is
a plan, and Fig. 7 is a cross section of the apparatus, as constructed to rub
with oilstones such blades, tools, or instruments. p, p, p, are oilstones, mounted
eccentrically on the ends of spindles, which are geared together by tooth
wheels, and driven by a band from the pulley Q on the main shaft (or other
suitable means); a pinion r is also fixed on the same shaft, which gives
motion to the stud wheel s, and through the medium of the connecting rod T
and segment wheel u, the carriage is caused to reciprocate, as previously
described. The spindles carrying the oilstones are adjusted, raised, or lowered
to the proper position by means of the bevil wheels v and screws w, and the
blade, "doctor," or other tool or instrument being adjusted in the same manner
as previously described in Sheet 1.
It will be readily perceived that, by these means or apparatus, I can obtain a
true straight edge without difficulty and with great facility, and at any required
angle or bevil.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the details of construction of the apparatus as herein
described, as such may be varied or modified without departing from the main
features or spirit of the Invention; but what I claim as my Invention, and
which I believe to be new within the realm is, the means or method of "whet-
ting" or setting printers' "doctors," or other similar straight-edged tools or
instruments, as herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying two
Sheets of Drawings, or by any modified construction of apparatus, whereby

page_text: such tools or instruments are or may be moved, or caused to reciprocate or
traverse to and fro, whilst being operated upon by a rotating grindstone or
oilstones.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hudson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
Wч TASKER.
JAMES HUDSON. (L.S.)