CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULES
LE BASTIER, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twelfth day of October,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, in the thirteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Jules Le Bastier, my exors, adññors, and 'assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Jules Le Bastier, my
exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Jules Le Bastier,
my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING;" in which said Letters Patent is con-
tained a proviso that I, the said Jules Le Bastier, should cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, 1, the said
Jules Le Bastier, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to machines and apparatus for printing on tissues
papers and other fabrics by means of rollers set in motion by a continual
rotative movement, and consists,―
Firstly, in printing mechanically one or more colors on the upper surface
of a moveable cylindrical table, by means of one or more printing rollers
engraved in relievo..
Secondly, in the mode of disposing the moveable cylindrical table to cause
its approaching or receding from the printing rollers, and in the means of
having the cogs (by which these last are put in motion) constantly catching,
whatever may be the approaching or receding motion of the said moveable
cylindrical table.
Thirdly, in constructing printing rollers engraved in relievo, and in the
suitable mechanism or apparatus regulating their respective positions relatively
to the moveable cylindrical table.
Fourthly, in the apparatus for tracing or marking the engraving or designs
on the printing rollers, and in the application of steel stamps, drawing points,
scrapers, and carriage supporters, for the purpose of cutting certain engravings,
and for scraping, dividing, and turning the said printing rollers.
Fifthly, in replacing the sieve rollers for feeding the printing rollers by
endless cloth, felt, or any other suitable material. The same letters of reference
in the several Figures represent parts which are similar in Drawings 1 and 2.
Drawing 1, Figure 1, represents a front view of the machine entirely set up
and ready to work; Figure 2, of the same Drawing, is a bird's-eye view of
the machine, having certain parts taken off to render the figure less complicated
and more intelligible.
Drawing 11, Figure 1, represents a vertical section drawn parallelly to
Figure 1 of Drawing 1; and Figure 2 of Drawing 11 is a transversal eleva-
tion through the axis of the moveable cylindrical table and of one of the
printing rollers.
The machine is composed in chief, firstly, of the moveable cylindrical table
A, which is able to descend or ascend at will in a direction parallel to itself;
secondly, of three rollers or cylinders B engraved in relievo, and placed on
the upper surface of the table A; thirdly, of the endless cloths C, with their

page_text: rollers and color sieves or troughs serving to aliment the printing rollers B.
The printing table A is a large drum made of cast iron or any other con-
venient material, surrounded with cloth or felt. This drum is set on an iron
axis a rotating on the bearings b, set on the middle of the upper part of two
parallel frames D. These frames are in connection one with the other on one
side by means of the axis c, which serves them as a pivot, and on the other
side by the axis d bearing the excentrics E, which serve to elevate or depress
the frames D of a certain length, by means of the two cog wheels F and of
the right pinions e, which are made to turn by means of the crank arms f
set in motion by hand. The crank arms f are adapted at the extremities of
the pinions e.
The excentrics E have their point of support on the jutting out
parts g cast with the internal sides of the permanent frames G of the machine.
From what has been herein-before described it will be seen that it is easy to
have the drum A to ascend or descend, and also to cause its approaching or
receding from the printing rollers B, though the said drum remains constantly
horizontal. A straight wheel H, having its cogs set internally, is adapted to
one of the bases of the table A, and receives its rotative motion from the
pinion I, which is set on the axis of the motive pulley J, receiving itself the
motion from any convenient power. On the outside of the opposite basis of
the drum A, another right and externally-toothed wheel K is set. That wheel
catches at the same time with the three toothed pinions h, which are fitted at
the extremity of the axis of the printing rollers, and also with the intermediate
wheels j, serving to give motion to the feeders c, by putting in movement the
pinion. The pinions h are provided with sockets and motion screws similar
to those employed in the printing machines, having their printing rollers sunk
with engravings. By these sockets and screws the position of the pinions h
can be exactly regulated, and consequently that of the printing rollers. These
said pinions h always catch with the cog wheel K, notwithstanding the lower-
ing of the printing table A; in consequence of the cog wheel K not being set
in a direct manner on the axis a, but, on the contrary, on a supplementary
axis a¹, which is jointed to the first axis a by means of a ferrule k having
a double groove. For that purpose the extremity of these two axes is mado
in the shape of a T, the arms of which are perpendicular one with the other,
and are set in the grooves of the ferrule k. It results from that mechanism
that when I cause the drum A to descend, the cog wheel K remains stationary
as well as its small axis a', which is supported on one side by the ferrule k,
and on the other side by the cast-iron chair L set externally on the extremity.
of the permanent frame. By means of the clasp ferrule land of an engaging
rack, I cause the herein-before mentioned wheel k to be permanent. on the

page_text: axis a', or to move at will, and consequently the drum A can turn or remain
stationary with it. As sometimes it is necessary to put in motion the printing
rollers, and to have the drum A to remain at rest, it is required in that case
that the ferrule be disengaged to set free the said wheel K, and with one of
the wheels the right pinion m is made to catch. The axis of the said pinion
m is provided with an additional wheel n, receiving its motion from the small
pinion o, which is made to rotate by a winch set in motion by hand. It is
easily conceived that the rotation of the above-mentioned pinion a is succes-
sively transmitted from the first feeding cylinder to the others, and at the same
time to the printing rollers, by means of the herein-before mentioned centre
cog wheel K, which being disengaged does not impress any motion to the
drum A. The position of the printing rollers is regulated, not only in a
circular direction by means of their pinions, which are provided, as herein-
before stated, with sockets, but also in a longitudinal direction on account of
the motion screws p, which jut out against the end of the axes of these said
pinions, and which are purposely fitted to the top of the elbowed bearers q,
which bolt with the external faces of the frame G. Besides, the brass chairs 7,
on which the pivots turn, are fitted in their bearings M in a manner such
that they can rotate on themselves, by which means the printing cylinders are.
enabled to deviate of a certain extent in an oblique direction relatively to the
surface of the printing table. I set also underneath the chairs r some screws
s, by which they can be clevated or lowered. Some other cramp screws t serve:
also to regulate the exact position of the supporters M, in order to move the
printing rollers either to the right or to the left side, with the exception, how-
ever, of the cylinder in the middle, when it is placed immediately above the
axis of the main drum. Some levers, provided with counterpoises N, bear on
the pivots of the printing rollers, in order to make them press upon the table A,
and consequently on the fabrics to be printed, to the required extent. The
amount of pressure required can be varied at will by changing the position of
the counterpoises N, and causing them to approach or recede from their point
of support. I set on two small parallel rollers o, o', each of the endless, cloths
C serving to aliment the printing cylinder with evlor. One of these cylinders.
0, 0¹ (the lower one o), is put in motion as berein-before mentioned by means
of the pinions i. These rollers o, o', are on one side in juxtaposition with the
surface of the printing cylinders, and on the other side they receive the pres-
sion and colors from the intermediate rollers P, which being made to rotate
more slowly are enabled to effect at the same time a sufficient friction to
cause the colors to be spread in an uniform layer on the endless cloths.
The intermediate rollers receive their motion from the pinions and wheels u',

page_text: and give movement to the alimenting rollers Q, by means of the cog wheels
vand. v. Therefore, when the aforesaid rollers Q dip into the troughs R,
containing the necessary colors, they feed with colors the intermediate rollers,
and the colors are transmitted from these last rollers to the endless cloths C,
and hence to the printing rollers. The relative position of the above-men-
tioned organs is also regulated with the utmost precision, because they are
fitted on moveable bearings which can be made to advance by means of motion
screws. Thus, the troughs R are placed on horizontal plates S, the position.
of which is fixed by the crank screws . These plates S carry the chairs of
the axes of each of the feeding cylinders Q. The bearers u, of the interme-
diate rollers P, are set in their proper places by means of the screws ¹ and
the rollers o, o', of the endless cloths C, are supported by the cast-iron chairs,
V, the position of which is properly regulated by the motion screws ².!
Finally, each separate apparatus is by itself set on large cast-iron bearers,
which can be made to advance or to recede by means of the motion screws y..
I can consequently regulate, according to circumstances, either the pression of
one roller upon another, or that of the rollers on the endless cloths, or also the
position of these agents relatively to the printing cylinders. The stretching of the
endless cloths C, either in the direction of their lengths or in that of their widths,
can equally be obtained with facility. If it is in the direction of their lengths.
that they are to be stretched, I elongate them by the readiness of motion which:
can be given to the roller o', on account of having its axes fitted in the upper.
grooved parts of the cast-iron chairs V; and by the disposition of the small
frames X, provided with small straight or semiround bands Z, the widening of
the endless cloths C takes place, by the pression of the small inclining rollers
g', Figure 3, Drawing 11. These rollers are free on their axes, and being set
up in an oblique direction, bear on one of the edges of the cloths in the.
manner represented in detail by the horizontal section of the same Figure 3.
It is very easy to comprehend, from what has been herein-before stated, the
working of the machine. The tissue intended to be printed, being wound up
on the roller Y, is brought on to the surface of the cylindrical table A, and
is drawn on in the rotative motion according to the momentum given to it by
means of the endless cloths Z, which keep it pressed on the table A. When
the tissue passes between this table and the printing rollers, it receives from
each of these the successive printing according to the corresponding colors.
which produce the designs formed by the combination of the several engravings.
It will be very easy by any convenient means to dispose two machines similar
for one or more colors, and to have them to work together by the same motive
nower.

page_text: The part of my Invention herein-after described relates more especially to
the printing rollers and to the means or apparatus for engraving them.
Drawing III. represents the details of one of these rollers and the appa-
ratus for tracing on their surface the required lines or divisions, and for per-
forating, turning,. flushing, and marking them. In the same Drawing,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine representing externally one
of the cylinders, and the vertical section of another cylinder drawn through its
axis. Figure 2 represents a bird's-eye view of the same. Figures 3 and 4
represent transversal sections, and show one of the carriage bearers furnished
with steel stamps, drawing points, or scoopers. In this apparatus A¹ repre-
sents a cast-iron bench sufficiently long to carry two cylinders, one at the end
of the other. Their axes are united by the jointing m', and are supported by
the bearers B', which are made to approach or recede according to the length
of the two cylinders themselves. Instead of constructing these rollers of a
solid piece of wood or brass, each of them is composed of a thin and cylin-
drically-shaped sheet of iron or brass fixed on two cast-iron discs a', Figure 1,
having their edges lapping over. These discs are fitted on two conical sockets,
one of which, b', is permanent on the axis, and the other, ", is moveable,
and made screwwise, in order to be pressed by means of the nut c¹. By that
mode of constructing these rollers I can change them as often as is necessary,
and I make use of the same axis. I cover over all the surface of the iron or
brass covering or tube (which, as herein-before described, forms the printing
roller) with a layer of plaster of Paris, stucco, cement, or any other suitable
composition, which is afterwards turned very cylindrically on the roller, by
using proper tools fixed on the carriage bearer, fitted on the apparatus repre-
sented by Figure 5 of the same Drawing III. On that external compound
bed I adjust either the metallic stereotype designs, which are set round by
means of the matrices M', having a circular form, and an eccentric E', which
being made to rotate of one fourth to one half of a revolution, forces the
metallic designs to adhere to the said compound bed, or I fix on the said layer
a thin wood surface shaped cylindrically, by steam or by any other convenient
means, and inlaid with glue insoluble in cold water. I delineate afterwards
on that wood the design which I intend to engrave on the external surface
of the cylinder; or if the kind of design allows it, I cut it at once by using
drawing points similar to what is represented by F¹, Figure 4, or scoopers, to
which a continuous rotative movement is given by means of grooved pulleys.
If these tools are not sufficient to complete the engraving, they can, however,
in many cases finish certain parts. Instead of wood or metallic designs, I can
also employ other substances, such as bees' wax, rosin, stearine, or marine

page_text: glue, which forms, in conjunction with sawdust, a kind of pasty composition
like putty.
I turn this paste cylindrically when laid out, and I engrave on
it the required designs. I also make use of the above-named different com-
pounds or cements to fill up the grounds of the engraved types or plates; or
I fill them up by any other means usually employed, too well known to
require any particular description. In order to make the engraved designs
of the two printing rollers agree perfectly well with each other, I unite them
on the line of their axis, as represented by Figures 1 and 2, Drawing III.,
and I cause the two drawing points p', which are fitted on two similar bearers
S', united together by a wormed band t, by which the separation of the draw-
ing point is regulated with the utmost exactitude to correspond with the two
above herein-stated printing rollers. By forcing the drawing points to travel
on the length of the carriage C', I am enabled to trace straight lines on the
surface of each of the rollers. If these last receive a rotative motion, I trace
circles on their circumference; and if I impress a motion to the cylinders and
to the drawing point simultaneously, I delineate on the rollers helices or other
curves. These several motions are obtained by ineans of the cog wheels R
and r, which impress a movenient of rotation at the same time to the axes of
the printing rollers, and to the motion screw V', which has its nut set in one
of the two bearers S¹. The above contrivance affords the advantage of obtain-
ing not only that the part set in relievo on the designs of one of the rollers
should correspond with the sunk or cut part of the design of the other roller,
and thus reciprocally, but it also affords the greater advantage of making all
the lines, divisions, or marks necessary for reproducing the designs more easily
delineated.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the pre-
cise details herein-before described, so long as the general features of the
arrangements be retained for carrying out the said improvements. But what
I claim as my Invention, and intended to be protected by the said Letters
Patent, is,
Firstly, the printing of tissues, papers, and other fabrics with one or more
colors, by the upper surface of a moveable cylindrical table, in conjunction
with one or several printing rollers, as herein-before described, in reference to
Figures 1 and 2, Drawing I., and Figures 1, 2, and 3, Drawing II.
Secondly, the arrangement of apparatus for causing the moveable table to
approach or recede from the printing rollers, and for maintaining the constant
catching of the cogs by which these said rollers are put in motion, indepen-
dently of the approaching or receding of the noveable table, as herein-before

page_text: described, reference being had to Figures 1 and 2, Drawing I., and Figures 1, 2,
and 3, Drawing II.
Thirdly, the constructing printing rollers cut in relievo and apparatus for
regulating their respective positions relatively to the moveable cylindrical tables
as herein-before described, reference being had to Figures 1 and 2 of Drawing I.,
and Figures 1, 2, and 3 of Drawing II.
Fourthly, the arrangement of machinery for adjusting and marking the
engraving on printing rollers, by the application of drawing points, scoopers,
and carriage supporters, either for the purpose of making on the said printing
rollers certain engravings, scraping, dividing, or turning them, as herein-before
described, reference being had to the Figures 3, 4, and 5, Drawing III.
Fifthly, the alimenting of printing rollers by means of endless webs of
cloth or felt to supersede color rollers, as herein-before described, reference
being bad to Figure 3, Drawing III.
Sixthly, the application of machinery and apparatus to printing with one,
two, three, four, five, and even a larger number of colors, and also to the
union of two machines, as herein-before described in reference to the several
Figures of Drawings I. and II.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jules Le Bastier, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, One thousand eight hundred