IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR RULING UPON METALLIC ROLLERS OR CYLINDERS FOR
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Whittam, of Accrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Engraver, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR RULING UPON METALLIC ROLLERS OR CYLINDERS FOR
Sealed the 26th February 1858, and dated the 29th August 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Whittam at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th August 1857.
I, ROBERT WHITTAM, of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, Engraver,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR RULING UPON METALLIC ROLLERS OR CYLINDERS FOR
PRINTING CALICO AND OTHER MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to machinery or apparatus for ruling figures or
designs upon metallic rollers or cylinders which are intended to carry a body
of coloring matter, which I accomplish by means of a model which contains
the figure or pattern upon it. This model is connected with the roller or
cylinder by means of wheels and other suitable gearing, so that the figure
or pattern is transferred from the model to the roller or cylinder by levers
which work any number of points that may be required on the roller or
cylinder. The said levers and points rest upon a carriage or slide worked by

page_text: a screw, which screw is worked by a self-acting motion. From the screw
there is suitable gearing to give action to the maundrill bearing the roller or
cylinder, so that the screw gives action to both the carriage or slide and to the
maundrill bearing the roller or cylinder.
The said roller or cylinder is
secured to the maundrill by means of screws. On one end of the maundrill is
an index, which divides the roller or cylinder into any given number of ruling
lines required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Whittam in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th February 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WHITTAM, of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, Engraver, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Whittam, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Whittam,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Whittam, my executors, my 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
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR RULING UPON METALLIC ROLLERS OR CYLINDERS FOR
PRINTING CALICO AND OTHER MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Robert Whittam, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, 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 within six calendar
months next and.immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Whittam, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
My Invention relates to self-acting machines or apparatus for ruling lines
upon the surfaces of metallic rollers or cylinders for the purpose of forming

page_text: a ground for carrying a body of colouring matter for printing calicos and
other materials. The said grounds are made of diagonal or other suitable
lines within any outlined figure or shape of any pattern or design, the outline
being formed beforehand by any of the well known methods. For the afore-
said purpose I indent upon a round or flat surface one or more sketches or
repititions of the figure or shape that I intend to rule, thus making an
indented model of the original figure or shape required. This model, if round,
is placed on centres, and geared so as to revolve in the same proportion as
the revolution of the roller or cylinder. If the model be flat, it is screwed to
a slide having a sliding motion given to it also in proportion to the motion
of the roller or cylinder. In either case the model gives motion by means of
a point to a lever and frame working on centres in a self-acting traversing
carriage, thereby regulating the movement of any suitable number of levers
and points placed so as to transfer the indents of the model to the required
number of ruling points upon the roller or cylinder, the traversing of the
carriage ruling the lines for forming the grounds, the said lines being made
of any desired width by means of the usual dividing apparatus for moving the
roller or cylinder the required distance. During the return stroke, after the
lines have been formed, the points are raised, and again fall upon the work
at the instant required. And in order to render the machine more complete
and self-acting I attach a stopping motion so as to work by steam or other
motive power, and when the roller has made one revolution, or the self-acting
carriage has given the required number of strokes, the machine stops. From
the indents of one model I can transfer the grounds to more than one roller
or cylinder. Suppose there are two rollers or cylinders for making a pattern
with two colours, I take from each an impression of the outlined figure or
pattern, and indent them in two depths on a round or flat surface, so that
when the point with the traversing carriage passes over the indents there is
transferred to each roller er cylinder its own figure or shape in rulod lines,
thereby forming the grounds for each color; and also make an enlarged or
diminished figure or shape by altering the gearing connecting the cylinder
and model, and giving the latter a greater or less speed in proportion to the
desired figure or shape on the surface of the cylinder, the traversing carriage
having at the same time a corresponding motion. The machinery may also
be worked by hand, making the operations self-acting or not, as desired,
either with or without the indented model, as in some instances there may be
an advantage in working this machine by hand, dispensing with the indented
model, and employing instead a round or flat surface, having printed upon it
an impression of the original figure or shape required, so that when the point

page_text: and its carriage traverses over the aforesaid printed model the latter becomes
a guide for the workman, so that he may raise and fall the points within the
said outlined figure on the surface of the cylinder. The aforesaid system of
ruling the lines of grounds dispenses with the usual tedious and expensive
mode of cutting the ground by hand or pressing it in with the engraving
machine, it also dispenses with the necessity of ruling the entire surface of the
roller or cylinder with lines, and afterwards painting out those parts which do
not require etching.
These improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, with the figures and letters thereon.
Fig. 1 is a front longitudinal elevation of a machine or apparatus worked
by power and adapted for ruling the grounds on the surface of one roller or
cylinder; Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse elevations of the same; Fig. 4, a plan;
Fig. 5, a transverse section; Fig. 6 is a back view of the headstocks, slide,
and model; Fig. 7 is an end view and Fig. 8 a plan of a modification of the
beam which presses on the levers carrying the tools and points; Fig. 9 is a
detached view of the apparatus for lifting the point from the model and also
the points from the roller or cylinder during the reversing of the carriage;
Fig. 10 represents an outlined figure upon the roller or cylinder before ruling
the grounds; Fig. 11, the same outline filled with the lines by the machine.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, a represents the standards or lower framing of
the machine, upon which is the main bed b, having parallel angular edges, so
that the saddle c may be able to slide to and fro with correctness by means
of the screw d revolving in a nut fixed to the bottom of the saddle. The
bed supports the upper frames e, having bearings f for carrying the
maundril g, upon which the roller or cylinder h is secured by screws, the said
bearings being adjusted to any required height by the screws i.
The circular model indented with any desired figure or design is shewn
at k, supported by the centres in the small headstocks m fixed to the bed n,
which works on the slides o, connected to the main bed 6 by the table the
said slide is adjustable by the screw r, also seen in Fig. 6, and is stationary
when grounds are to be made the same size as the model, but moves to and
fro by the turning of the screw r, when the pattern is to be either enlarged or
diminished. The model moving in the same direction as the carriage when
the patterns are required to be enlarged, and also revolving slower in pro-
portion; but when diminished patterns are desired, the model moves in a
reverse direction to the carriage, and also turns proportionally quicker.
At the top of the model I employ a point s, adjustable at any suitable
position in the arm or levert placed in the slide u, and regulated to any

page_text: desired height by the screw v, the said slide being attached to the frame w,
having its beams y and z about the length of the roller; the said frame
vibrates upon the pivots or centres a¹ attached to the arms b¹ connected to
the slide c¹ of the traversing carriage, the said slide working in the frames d',
which are attached in any convenient position to the main bed b. At the
top of the carriage is the rail or table e', having a pin f¹ in the middle, so
that when required it may be placed at any angle with the roller or cylinder,
and afterwards fixed by screws.
Upon the rail or table e' I adjust any suitable number of supports g¹,
having pins or centres for supporting the same number of levers h', carrying
weights k¹ and points I, so placed that the points may come in contact with
the roller or cylinder when required, the said points falling by means of the
weights when pressure is taken off the levers h¹ by the rising of the beam
when the point s is in the indented part of the model, but the points ▸ are
raised off the cylinder when the beam z is depressed in consequence of the
points resting on the raised or projecting parts of the model, so that when
the cylinder and model are made to revolve, and the traversing carriage made
to traverse, the points rule lines upon the surface of the roller or cylinder
corresponding exactly with the figure, shape, or pattern on the model, thereby
forming the grounds required in a very certain and expeditious manner.
The roller or cylinder is prepared for this machine by having on its surface
the desired number of outlines of the figure or pattern made, as before said, by
any well known process; the outlines are filled with paint or other substance
which acids do not affect, and the surface of the cylinder is then covered with
the usual varnish, and afterwards adjusted upon the maundril of the machine,
and it is then ready for ruling the grounds, which are formed when the points
are allowed to fall on the surface of the roller or cylinder, the latter having
a revolving motion, and a gradual advancing revolution in connection with
the traversing of the self-acting carriage, the model revolving at the same
time, the stopping and raising motions being employed in conjunction for the
purposes of accuracy and safety.
The aforesaid movements are put in operation as follows:-From any
driving pulley or drum motion is given alternately by means of the strap m'
to the outer pulleys n¹ and o¹, thereby giving in the usual manner a slow and
fast motion to the screw d, which is reversed according to the width of the
pattern by the stud p¹ on the saddle c acting on the stops q¹ on the rail r¹, the
middle pulley being loose for the strap to run upon when the machine is at
The screw d extends through the bed, and has fixed upon the other
end the pinion s¹ gearing into the wheel t, connected to which is the pinion u
rest.

page_text: gearing into the large wheel v¹ clutched into the frame w¹ of the usual
dividing apparatus on one end of the maundril, at the other end of which is
the wheel x, driving by means of the carrier wheels y¹ the toothed wheel z¹ on
the end of the bar a³, which drives the model k.
In order to lift the point from the model, and also the points from the
surface of the roller or cylinder when the traversing carriage is reversed, I
employ the apparatus shewn detached in Fig. 9, motion being given to the
indented disc 62 by the catches c2 adjusted to any position required, the said
disc acting on a rod connected to the arm or lever t:
At the ends of the rail or table e¹ I place bearings for supporting counter-
balance weights d², placed on crank levers e connected by links f to the
ends of the frame w, thereby balancing the points when they are off the
roller or cylinder, and giving a uniform pressure to the point on the model.
At Figs. 7 and 8 I represent an arrangement of rail or beam for raising
and falling the levers from the roller or cylinder, the said rail g³ having on the
under side a plate or segment curved the same as the cylinder for adjusting
the levers h¹, holding the points when the rail or table e¹ is placed at an angle
with the roller or cylinder. I give motion to the traversing carriage of the
model by means of the wheels he gearing into the wheel k on the screw d.
In order to stop the machine when the roller has made one revolution, or
the carriage the required number of strokes, I place upon the rail the catch
for shifting a tooth of the ratchet wheel m³, which turns the worm n³,
acting on the worm wheel o², attached to which is the notched disc p³, having
above it the pin q2 guided in the standard r¹, and attached to a rod s³,
extending to a slotted segment t2 forming part of the balance lever u², so that
when the notch in the disc allows the rod s to fall it enters the slot in the
segment and holds the lever u³ in a vertical position, thereby keeping the
strap on the loose pulley and stopping the machine.
On the plan, Fig. 5, I shew the fly wheel v2 with the handle attached for
working the machine by hand, by means of the bevil gear turning the wheel
h working into the wheel on the screw d, thereby giving action to the
whole machine.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein set forth, as such
may be varied or modified without departing from the principle thereof; but
I claim as my Invention, and which to the best of my knowledge and belief
has not been hitherto used within the realm,-
First, the construction and arrangement of machinery or apparatus for

page_text: ruling lines within an outline figure or shape from an indented model of the
original design.
Secondly, the method of ruling one or more rollers or cylinders at the same
time from one model.
Thirdly, the mode of transferring an enlarged or diminished figure or shape
from an indented model to the surface of the roller or cylinder in ruling
lines.
Fourthly, the mode of stopping the machine when the cylinder has made
one revolution or when the self-acting carriage has given the required number
of strokes.
Fifthly, the mode of working the said machine or apparatus by hand either
with or without the indented model.
Sixthly, the beam for regulating the points when the rail is set at an
angle with the roller.
Seventhly, the counterbalance weights, shewn at d, for balancing the
points, giving an uniform pressure to the point on the model.
And, eighthly, the apparatus for lifting the point from the model whilst the
carriage reverses, as all such improvements are herein described and illustrated
in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Whittam, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Twenty-sixth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
ROBERT WHITTAM. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Robert Whittam, in the presence
of
ROBERT WHITTAM. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Robert Whittam, in the presence
of
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.