Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
I, ALFRED MORFITT, of Hockley Mill, in the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, Engineer & Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows
My improvements consist in a new arrangement for locking the frame carrying
the platen, and also, of a new arrangement and combination of rollers for inking the
"forme" in platen printing machines. The improvements for locking the platen
frame consist of an eccentric shaft carrying a lever & truck which is operated by a
cam, the said shaft having flats formed on it to allow the platen frame to come into
position after which a spring brings the shaft under projections on the platen frame,
holding it firmly between the shaft and projections on the frame of machine until
the impression is taken, when the shaft is moved a portion of a revolution by the
cam to allow the platen to assume the position for feeding a sheet. The axes of
eccentric shaft being almcst at a right angle with the centre of platen frame makes
it impossible for any movement to take place in the platen whilst the impression is
being taken, as is the case with the locking apparatus now in use, which consists
chiefly of a prop wedged between the platen frame and held there by means of
springs or a spring. The spring used in my invention is only for the purpose of
bringing the shaft into position.
Another important improvement in my invention is the fixing of an additional
roller or rollers in combination with the already existing rollers in use for inking
the type or "forme," and consists in mounting one or more rollers in suitable
bearings, the same being in contact with the inking rollers, by which an increased
roller surface for inking purposes is obtained and at the same time a more perfect
distribution of ink. I prefer to place one roller between each two of the existing
ones or one on each, and bearing upon them; and not upon the type. By this means
every roller inking the type is re-inked by the additional rollers before coming
again in contact with the type, and by a lateral movement given to the "riders
or additional rollers a re-distribution of the ink is given to the inkers.
1000
11
ALFRED MORFITT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
I, ALFRED MORFITT, of Hockley Mill, in the Town and County of Nottingham,
Engineer and Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in platen printing machines the objects
thereof being to render the locking or holding of the rocking platen frame more
secure whilst an impression is being taken, to obtain a continuous removal and
re-distribution of the ink upon the inking rollers; to ink the forme more perfectly
and evenly than heretofore and to increase the inking surface.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of such parts of a platen printing machine as
are necessary to illustrate my invention.
Figs. 2 and 3 are details in section showing the parts for locking the platen
frame in two positions, Fig. 2 showing the frame unlocked and Fig. 3 showing
it locked.

page_text: Fig. 4 is a plan view of the locking shaft and
Fig. 5 a plan of the first pair of inking rollers and their attachments, including
an extra, or rider, roller.
A represents the stationary-frame,of the machine B, and, C. the driving wheels
for imparting motion to the disc D which carries the crank axle E which imparts
reciprocatory motion to the type bed F; G is the platen, H the rocking platen
frame, I the frame carrying the inking apparatus and K₁the link for imparting
motion to the frame I all of which are old and well known parts of a platen printing
machine.
M is a shaft mounted in the framework A the portion of the shaft between the
bearing ends M' being turned down or reduced in diameter such reduced portion
being eccentric to the said bearing ends as shown plainly in Figs. 2. 3. and 4.
Portions of the said shaft are also cut away at m for reasons hereinafter explained.
To one of the ends M' is fixed a lever M carrying a stud on which is mounted a
bowl or runner m¹ which bears against the periphery of a cam L fixed to or formed
on the face of the disc D. Contact between the runner m' and the cam L is main-
tained by means of a spiral spring m³ one end of which is attached to a hooked
lever m², fixed to the opposite end of the shaft the other end of the spring being
fixed to the framework A. m is one of the projections on the platen frame H which
comes in contact with the fixed stop m' when the platen is in position for taking an
impression and in order to arrive at this position the projections pass through the
space provided by the cutaway portions m of the shaft M. A portion of the pro-
jection below the part m¹ is removed so as to leave a cavity which forms a segment
of a circle of the same radius as the shaft M. Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen
that the projection m' has reached the fixed stop m' and that the platen is ready
to receive the impression. The platen is however not yet locked but will be as
soon as the cam L has travelled a little further when the spring m³ will cause the
shaft M to turn into the cavity in the projection m' and wedge the latter against
the stop piece m³ thus locking the platen as shown in Fig. 2 in which the parts
are shown locked. It will be noticed that in this figure as in Fig. 1 the runner m'
is not in contact with the portion of the cam nor is this necessary so long as a
sufficient portion of the shaft M enters the cavity in the projection to fix the same.
In the course of time as the parts wear away the shaft M will be turned further
round and the object in forming the shaft eccentric to its bearings is to compensate
for such wear.
Referring now to the inking apparatus N and N₁ are rider-rollers covered with
a composition of india-rubber or any other suitable material. These rollers are
made preferably in tubular form and are free to revolve on fixed axles n upon one
of which a screw or thread is cut (see n Fig. 5) a female screw being formed
within the end of the roller. As an alternative the roller may be fixed and have
no thread formed on it, the lateral traversing motion being imparted by any suitable
mechanical means. In the drawings the rider-roller N is shown free to revolve on
its axle (Figs. 1 and 5). The rider-roller N¹ is fixed to its axles. The drawings
show two rider-rollers but the number may be increased or diminished, according
to requirement. When the roller is mounted loosely upon its axle stop-collars n³
Those
are provided in order to regulate the extent of the lateral motion.
portions of the axles which fit into the bearings are flattened at the sides and are
thus prevented from revolving.
O and O' are ordinary roller carriages pivoted at o to the levers o¹ and o², see
-Fig. 5,-which-are-mounted-as usual-on-the-studs -03-fixed in-the roller-frame-I.
The carriages are slotted for the reception of the roller axles, the slots for the
roller N being fitted with caps of sliding in grooves between which caps and the axle
of the roller Ñ are inserted spiral springs which regulate the pressure on the axles
and keep the roller N in contact with the inking rollers J and J¹.
To the carriages O and O1 (and also to the arms O2 carrying the ordinary roller J'
and the extra roller N')-hooks are attached, which carry rods P-and P¹, to the lower
ends of which are fixed collars p and p'.

page_text: Surrounding these rods are spiral springs p³ fixed at p at one end, the other
end of the springs being fixed in bearings with caps p to the roller frame I.
The tension of the springs attached to the roller carriages O and O', keeps the
inking rollers in contact with the type, in the usual manner.
The springs on the rods P¹ are in addition, so adjusted proportionately between
the centres of the rollers J and N', so as to keep the roller N¹ in contact with
the rollers J and J' and at the same time to keep the roller J2 in contact
with the type.
The lower portion of the rods P. P₁ pass loosely through the springs and in
case of any of the springs breaking whilst the machine is in motion, the collars p
and p' will come in contact with the bearings p¹ and prevent disarrangement of
the rollers.
During the rocking motion of the roller frame I about its centre L', the inking
rollers pass upwards and downwards over the type and ink-slab, and the contact of
the rollers J. J' and J' with such surfaces causes them to revolve which movement
is transmitted to the rider-rollers N and N¹ which are kept in contact with the
rollers J, J and J' by the springs o' and p³. The backwards and forwards rotary
movement thus imparted to the roller N revolving loosely on the screw n³ of the
fixed axles n imparts to it at the same time a lateral or endwise movement. The
surfaces of the rollers J. J', and N are thereby connected and a continual re-distri-
bution of the ink takes place even while the same is being taken off by the type
and which is greatly augmented by the lateral movement imparted to the rider
or riders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In a platen printing machine the method of locking the platen by means
of shaft such as M partially flattened to allow for the passage of the platen
frame H substantially as described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
2nd. In a platen printing machine the locking apparatus consisting essentially
of a flattened shaft M adjusted to engage with a slot or groove formed in the
projections H of the platen frame and actuated by means of a cam Land
spring m substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3rd. In platen printing machines the combination of the rollers N and N'
with the rollers J, J', J and of the fixed or loose axles n with or without
the thread or screws n² and the stop collars n³, as and for the purposes herein
before set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1891
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.