IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER PAINTING MACHINES
Year: 1862

page_text: IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER PAINTING MACHINES."--A communication from
abroad by William Bullock, of Pittsburgh, in the State of Pennsylvania,
North America.
Sealed the 25th September 1862, and dated the 4th April 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Collier Bakewell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th April 1862.
I, FREDERICK COLLIER BAKEWELL, of No. 6, Haverstock Terrace, Hamp-
stead, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER PRINTING MACHINES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists of certain improvements in letter printing machines,
whereby the paper is supplied from a continuous roll, and is cut into sheets
printed on both sides, and delivered by the machine. The Invention com-
prises the following features:-
1st.. the feeding of the paper into the printing machine from a continuous
roll by means of endless tapes, or an apron on which the roll, is supported.
2nd, the maintenance of the roll of paper in a horizontal position at the
paper'
[Price 8d.]

page_text: able bearings.
3rd, the employment of a yielding sheath on each side of the cutter for
the purpose of holding the paper firmly against the edges of the slot in the
female cutting cylinder while the paper is cut into sheets.
4th, the use of a check plate or other equivalent contrivance between the
feed roller and the cutting cylinders to press down on the paper as soon as
a sheet has been cut off, so as to prevent the end of the paper from passing
between the cutting cylinders until the grippers on the female cutting cylinder,
which carried forward the sheet last cut off, have returned to seize hold of
the paper by this means a space is left between each sheet. The more rapid
motion of the female cutting cylinder enables it to take up the slack caused
by the accumulation of paper behind the check plate as soon as the latter is
raised.
5th, permitting the escape from the machine of any loose pieces of paper
by dispensing with any tapes or other guides between the cutting cylinders
and the first impression cylinder, thus preventing the clogging of the
machine.
6th, the application on one of the cutting cylinders of a set of grippers,
which seize the paper before it is severed from the roll, and carry it round to
the first impression cylinder, the cutter severing the paper when a sufficient
length of it has passed to form a sheet of the required size.
7th, the employment of a second impression cylinder of two or more times
the diameter of the type cylinder, in order to lessen the amount of set-off of
the ink from the previously printed side of the sheet, and thus prevent the
smearing of the paper.
8th, delivering the printed sheets by an apparatus consisting of short fly
rods making rapid strokes up and down, so as to strike the back part of the
sheets as they pass from the machine, which in combination with curved
fingers and a roller that has intermitting motion, pass the sheets forward, and
a rapid delivery is effected.
9th, the application of a table for the reception of the printed sheets, Lo
which table an intermittent alternate lateral motion of an inch or two is given
at intervals of time sufficient to allow any required number of sheets to be
piled upon one another; by this means the number of printed sheets in a
large pile may be readily counted.
10th, communicating an alternate lateral motion to the small ink-dis-
tributing rollers on the face of the large ink-distributing cylinder for the
purpose of securing a more uniform distribution of the ink.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick Collier Bakewell in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 4th October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
COLLIER BAKEWELL, of No. 6, Haverstock Terrace, Hampstead, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Frederick Collier Bakewell, Her special licence, that I, the said Frederick
Collier Bakewell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LETTER PRINTING MACHINES," a communication to me from abroad
by William Bullock, of Pittsburgh, in the State of Pennsylvania, North
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that 1, the said Frederick
Collier Bakewell, 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, within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This improved machine for printing from moveable type or stereotype plates
belongs to that class of printing machines in which the paper is supplied in a
continuous web or roll, and by which the sheets are severed from the web,
printed on both sides, and delivered from the machine perfected.
In power-printing machines the chief objects to be attained, besides sim-

page_text: plicity of construction and neatness and regularity of execution, are the per-
fecting of the sheets, or printing them on both sides by passing them once
only through the machine, and the attainment of the highest degree of speed
in the operation. The former result, that is, the "reiteration" of the sheet
on the same machine has previously been accomplished by the use of two or
more type cylinders and of complicated machinery for inking the forms and
turning the sheet; but the rapidity of execution is necessarily limited by the
speed with which the blank paper can be supplied, and the printed sheets
delivered from the machine, so that for want of an apparatus capable of deli-
vering the sheets as fast as printed, the delivery is effected in the most
improved machines now in use, where a high speed is attained, by several dis-
tinct arrangements requiring the employment of a number of hands. In this
machine, however, there is only one delivering apparatus which works as
rapidly as the sheets can be printed.
In more particularly describing this Invention, so as to enable those skilled
in the art to make and use the improved machine, I desire to refer to the
two Sheets of Drawings which accompany and form part of this Specification.
The Drawings comprise fourteen Figures, marked Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, in each of which like letters of reference are
employed to designate the same parts of the machine; but in Figures i
and 4, in order to avoid confusion, several of the minor parts are not lettered,
although shown in the Drawing.
Figure 1 is a perspective representation of the improved printing machine
viewed from the front or delivering end, and the left-hand side thereof;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine from the same side; Figure 3 is a
side elevation of the machine from the right-hand side thereof; Figure 4 is
a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine viewed from the right hand
side, the framework being left out so as to exhibit more clearly the relative
positions and operations of the parts; Figure 5 is a sectional representation,
on a larger scale, of the type cylinders, showing also the arrangement and
relative positions and operations of the grippers on the cutting and impression
cylinders, and the cams by which they are worked, and the relative position
and operation of the delivering apparatus; Figure 6 is a sectional repre-
sentation of the cutting cylinders in the relative positions which they occupy
when severing a sheet of paper from the roll; Figure 7 is a transverse section.
on a larger scale, of the cutters for severing the paper; Figure 8 is a per-
spective representation of the upper and lower cutters detached from the
cutting cylinders; Figure 9 is a side view of one of the type cylinders;
Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a perspective

page_text: representation of the fly apparatus for delivering the printed sheets, with the
fly rods raised, and the curved fingers for holding the sheets lowered;
Figure 12 is a similar view to Figure 11, showing the position of the parts
when the fly rods are down and the curved fingers raised; Figures 13 is a
representation, on a larger scale, of the mechanism for shifting the delivery
table, so as to separate the sheets into piles of equal number; Figure 14
shows the mode of communicating the intermitting vibratory motion to the
transferring ink roller and small distributing ink rollers. Figures 1 to 4
inclusive are drawn to the same scale; the other Figures are on a larger
scale, so as to exhibit the details more clearly. Figures 1 and 2 exhibit the
side of the machine, which, for the sake of distinction, I call the left-hand
side, while Figures 3 and 4 show the opposite or right-hand side. The end
of the machine which is nearest to the eye in Figure 1, 1 call the front or
delivering end, being that at which the printed sheets are delivered from the
machine; the other end I call the rear or receiving end, being that at which
the paper-feeding apparatus is situated.
In the three Figures, in Sheet L., A is the frame of the machine, which is
made of iron, and has parallel sides supporting the various shafts and cylinders
of the machine, which are placed horizontally between them.
The upper
part of the frame at the front end is horizontal, and is raised a little above the
lower end. Near to the centre of the machine is the large impression
cylinder C, which is two or more times the diameter of the type cylinders
D, D'. In the Drawings, the cylinder C is three times the diameter of the
type cylinders, and such a machine, therefore, prints three sheets of paper
at ench revolution of that cylinder. These cylinders are hollow, and their
lengths and diameters vary in different machines according to the required
capacity, their length determining the width of the machine.
On the shaft of
the second impression cylinder C, but outside the frame A, is a drum a (see
Figure 3), which serves as the master wheel to which power is communicated
from the steam engine or other prime mover, and from which all other parts
of the machine, having positive motion, receive their movements; some by
means of a train of gearing wheels, shown on the left-hand side of the machine
in Figures 1 and 2, and others by belts and drums, as seen in Figure 3. The
gearing and drums to communicate motion to the parts are placed outside of
the frame.
Before explaining more minutely the construction and operation of the
principal parts of the machine, I will describe their relative motions, and how
they are derived. On the shaft of the large impression cylinder C (at the
opposite extremity from that on which is placed the drum a) is a large cog

page_text: The axes
wheel W (see Figures 1 and 2), which gears into a smaller cog wheel w,
which is fixed on the end of the first impression cylinder B, placed vertically
over the second impression cylinder C. The cog wheel w gears into a
cog wheel ', at the extremity of the shaft of the first type cylinder D
placed in front of it, and also into a similar cog wheel wo³, on the shaft of
the upper cutting cylinder E, which is placed in the rear of it.
of the three cylinders D, G, and E, may be in the same horizontal plane.
The cog wheel, on the upper cutting cylinder E, gears into a similar cog
wheel on the lower cutting cylinder F. In the rear of the large impression
cylinder C, and below the cutting cylinders, is the second type cylinder D',
which carries on its shaft a cog wheel w, gearing into the cog wheel W on
the shaft of the large impression cylinder C. The small cog wheels w, w, w,
, and are all of the same diameter, being one-third that of the large
cog wheel W.
The ink-distributing cylinders G and G¹ have each a cog
wheel, which gears into an idler z interposed between them and the cog
wheels and won the shafts of the type cylinders D and D' respectively.
All the cog wheels already described are placed in the same vertical plane.
On the shaft of the lower cutting cylinder F, and alongside the cog wheel w³,
is a smaller toothed wheel y, and on the shaft of the feed roller H is a similar
toothed wheel y', but of somewhat larger diameter than the wheel y, so as to
give the feed roller H a slower motion than the cutting cylinders E and F.
The toothed wheels y and y' are connected by an idler x. At the extreme
rear end of the machine is a rod b, supported horizontally on two standards c, c,
on opposite sides of the frame, the rod b being the axis of the spool of a spare
roll of printing paper, placed there to be ready for use as soon as the paper on
the roll which is in use is expended. In front of the standards c, c, is a shaft d,
placed horizontally across the frame, and turning freely in bearings thereon.
Near each end of the shaft d, and rigidly attached to it, are two arms e, e; in
a slot, at the extremities of which is placed the rod b¹, similar to the rod b,
which forms the axis of a wooden spool, round which is, wound the roll of
printing paper which is being supplied to the machine. The rod turns
freely on its bearings, and the spool is loose on the rod, so that there may be
no obstruction to the free unwinding of the paper. The shaft d is placed at
such a distance in the rear of the feed roller H that when the spool of paper
on the rod b¹ is resting on the feed roller, as seen in Figure 2, the arms e, e,
may incline forward sufficiently to allow the weight of the roll of paper to
press upon the feed roller, and thus prevent the spool from unwinding more
rapidly than it is caused to do by the rotation of the feed roller.
The paper,
properly prepared to receive impressions from the type, is wound on its spool

page_text: in one continuous web or sheet, and is unwound by the motion of the feed
roller 1, over which it passes. In order to obtain the right degree of pressure
of the spool of paper against the feed roller, and to permit this pressure to be
varied so as to suit the weight of the roll of paper in use, a lever is extended
from the shaft dat right angles to the arms e, or thereabouts, which is rigidly
attached to that shaft. On that lever there is a weight o', which may be slid
backward and forward, and be fastened at any desired point on the lever j';
that weight thus serves as a counterbalance to the roll of paper on the shaft b',
and the pressure of the roll of paper on the feed roller H may be so adjusted
that it will unwind from the spool at each rotation of the feed roller a length
of paper exactly equal to the periphery of the feed roller H, without loosening
the paper remaining on the spool. As the paper unwinds from the spool it is
prevented from. passing round and winding itself on the feed roller by the
horizontal strips, f, 1, (see Figure 1,) which are supported by a frame g, and
which bridge the space between the feed roller H and the lower cutting
cylinder F. The diameter and the speed of the feed roller are so adjusted
that by its continuous motion the exact quantity of paper for the required size
of sheet is supplied to the machine during one complete revolution of the
cutting cylinders, which sever a sheet at each revolution, and move more
rapidly than the feed roller, for the reason hereafter explained. Should it be
desired to reduce or to increase the size of the sheets to be printed, it is not
necessary to alter the diameter of the cutting cylinders, but the reduction or
increase of size may be effected by substituting a feed roller of different
diameter, or by altering the relative speed of the feed roller, by removing the
cog wheel y', and substituting a smaller one, to increase the size of the sheet,
or a larger one lo diminish it. To effect this change the idler a¹ between
the feed roller and lower cutting cylinder may be hung on an adjustable
bearing. The paper being thus drawn forward by the motion of the feed
roller H, passes over the strips f, /, &c., on to the surface of the lower
cutting cylinder F, until its forward edge comes in contact with the surface
of the upper cutting cylinder E, where it is seized by the grippers or
curved fingers h, h, in the upper cutting cylinder, by which it is caused
to leave the lower cutting cylinder, and is carried onward to the first impres
sion cylinder B. Grippers similar to those in the upper cutting cylinder E
are used also in the two impression cylinders B and C for the purpose of
seizing the paper at the right time, and carrying it onward through the
machine, and in each case are similarly constructed.
attached at intervals to rods k, which are placed
surfaces of the hollow cylinders B, C, and E.
The grippers are rigidly
horizontally below the
Their construction and

page_text: arrangement are shown in Figures 5 and 6.
The surfaces of the cylinders
are intermitted where the grippers occur, to allow them to retire inside the
cylinders; as also in the cylinder F (which has no grippers) to allow them to
risc.
The end of each of the grippers rests on a pad i, so as to hold the paper
firmly. The gripper rod has a crank at one end projecting from the cylinder,
on which crank is a small roller i, which as the cylinder revolves works
between cam guides attached to the frame of the machine, thus opening or
closing the grippers at the right point of time. A spring s has on its free end
a small roller, which enters a groove in a shoulder or projection on the gripper
shaft in each set, and serves to retain the grippers, open or closed, until
moved by the cam and crank. Figure 5 illustrates the operation of the grippers
on the cylinders B, C, and E, as effected by the cam guides; the arrows
indicating the directions in which these cylinders revolve, the dotted lines the
path of the roller at the end of the crank of each of the gripper rods, and
the blue lines the sheets of paper as they are seized, held, and carried round
by the grippers. In Figure 5 each of the grippers marked his closed, and
has hold of a sheet of paper, and the grippers marked h' are open, having
released the paper.
Figure 5) close, and seize the loose end of the paper at the moment when
the cam roller has passed between the cam guides 1, 1, and hold it, carrying
it round until the edge of the paper held by the grippers comes within
reach of the grippers 2, on the first impression cylinder B, which takes place
when the cam roller on the gripper passes through the cam guides 1, at
which moment the grippers on the upper cutting cylinder release the paper,
and those on the impression cylinder seize it, carrying it round (as shown in
Figure 5) in front of and in rolling contact with the first type cylinder D, by
which the sheet is printed in white, or on one side only. So soon as the
length of paper drawn forward by the cylinders E and B is equal to the
required length of sheet it is severed from the web or roll by the cutter in
the cutting cylinders E and F. One of the cutting cylinders carries a steel
blade m (see Figures 7 and 8), which has a serrated edge, and is attached to
a back plate n. Parallel to the back plate, and attached thereto by pins p
and springs q, is a face plate r, composed of two strips, which slide up and
down on the pins p, p, on cach side of the serrated cutter, and which when
raised by the springs q, q, inclose the edge of the cutter between them. The
steel blade with its shield or face plate is set either in the upper or lower
cutting cylinder, so that the cutter shall project beyond the periphery of the
cutting cylinder and enter a grooved plate t', set in the other cutting cylinder
in a proper relative position to the blade of the cutter. On each side of the
The grippers on the upper cutting cylinder E (see

page_text: groove in the plate is a strip of india-rubber cloth u, or other similar sub-
stance, between which and the face plate on each side of the cutter m the
paper may be held, while the cutter enters it to sever the sheet. When during
the rotation of the cutting cylinders the sheath or face plate of the cutter m
comes in contact with the projecting india-rubber strips on the opposite
cylinder, the sheath or face plate r is depressed into the groove of the cutting
cylinder, and the teeth of the cutter enter the paper far enough to sever so
much of the paper as has passed between the cutting cylinders from the web
behind it; the paper being held so firmly by the india-rubber strips u, u, as
to prevent its being forced up into the slot instead of being cut, as might
otherwise be the case. As it is necessary to leave a space between the sheets
of paper as they pass through the machine, and as the paper being carried
continuously forward by the feed roller H, would, unless checked in its course,
follow the preceding sheet through the cutting cylinders without being caught
by the grippers that had not released the preceding sheet, and would there-
fore pass downward below the cutting cylinders; check plates or fingers arc
placed over the bridge or strips f, f, which plates being pressed down on the
paper at the back of the cutter as soon as the preceding sheet is severed from
the roll detain it until the grippers can seize the forward edge of the sheet.
These check plates or fingers v, v, are attached to a rod z, which is extended
horizontally across the machine over the bridge or strips f, f, &c. The rod z
has a crank at one end, which is connected by an arm a¹ to the lever c¹, the
extremity of which presses against an adjustable eccentric cam d¹ on the shaft
of the upper cutting cylinder E on the right-hand side of the machine (see
Figure 3). The cam d' is so adjusted as to press down the check plates v, v,
on the paper at the moment when a sheet has been severed by the cutters,
thus preventing the farther advance of the paper between the cutting
cylinders. As the feed roller, however, continues its motion the paper
gathers in loose folds behind the check plates; but at the moment when the
grippers in the upper cutting cylinder E seize the forward end of the paper
the check plates are raised by the cam d', and the more rapid motion of
the cutting cylinder E, before referred to, soon takes up the slack of the
paper, until that sheet, like the preceding one, is severed by the cutter.. In
place of the check plates or fingers v, v, check rollers or other equivalent
device may be used, if preferred. In case the grippers on the cutting
cylinder E should fail to seize hold of the paper by any accident, the paper
instead of being carried to the first impression cylinder B will pass between
the cutting cylinders and fall on the apron or blanket I (see Figure 4), placed
under the cutting cylinders E and F, and above the second type cylinder D'

page_text: and its inking apparatus, and when severed by the cutter the paper will drop
down and be out of the way. The same will occur in case of any break of
the paper, the scrap will thus pass off instead of going through and perhaps
clogging the machine.
The type cylinders D and D', which are of equal diameter and similar
construction, are adapted either for moveable type or stereotype plates, or for a
combination of both, as shown in the Drawing, (see Figures 9 and 10). The
space or depression S, in the circumference of the type cylinders, occurs at
the point, which will come opposite to the grippers, in the impression cylinders
B and C, with which they revolve in rolling contact, and admits the grippers
to open and close. When the sheet of paper severed from the roll has been
carried by the first impression cylinder B, in front of the first type cylinder D
and been printed in white, it is carried round in the direction indicated
by the arrow on the cylinder B, in Figure 5, until it reaches the second
impression cylinder C, which is placed immediately below the first impression
cylinder, and nearly touches it. This second impression cylinder is similar in
construction to the first, except that it is larger, being two, three, or morc
times the diameter of the other, as may be desired. The size of the cylinder
determines the capacity of the printing machine, which will print on both sides
at each revolution of the cylinder as many sheets as it contains diameters of
the first impression cylinder.
In the Drawing the second impression cylinder is three times the size of
the first, and is calculated to print three sheets of paper at one revolution.
The principal object of this increased size of the second impression cylinder is
to reduce the liability to set off the ink from the printed surface to the surface
of the cylinder, and from the cylinder back to the printed sheets. Both the
impression cylinders are hollow, and their surfaces are covered with felt or
blankets, in the usual way, the first impression cylinder having one blanket,
and the second having three, that is, one for each impression surface. The
sheet of paper having been printed in white on the first impression cylinder, is
carried round to the second, to receive reiteration. There are three sets of
grippers, h, h, h¹, on the second impression cylinder C, placed at equal dis-
tances apart, and in such relative situations to the grippers h³, on the first
impression cylinder B, that on each revolution of the first cylinder its grippers
come exactly opposite to one of the sets of grippers in the second cylinder, so
that as the cylinders B and C turn in the directions indicated by the arrows in
Figure 5, the grippers on the cylinder B will release the sheet of paper just
as the grippers on the cylinder C seized hold of it. The sheet thus
held is carried forward by the second impression cylinder, as shown in Figure

page_text: 5, so as to pass in contact with the second revolving type cylinder D',
which prints it on the other side. The shects thus printed on both sides
puss round under the large impression cylinder, as seen in Figure 5, to the
delivering apparatus at the front end of the machine. As the sheets are
held in front by the grippers, and are pressed close to the second impression
cylinder by the type cylinder, and the motion of the impression cylinder C is
very rapid, there is little risk of the rear or loose end of the sheet falling down,
but to prevent the possibility of such an accident, an apron composed of a
number of curved strips of iron e' (see Figure 4), is placed near to and parallel
with the under side of the large impression cylinder C, and serves to guard
the sheet, and prevent it from wrinkling as it passes underneath.
Before describing the apparatus for delivering and counting the printed
sheets, I will explain the construction and operation of the inking apparatus.
Connected with each of the type cylinders D and D', is a separate inking
apparatus, one in front of the first type cylinder D, the other in the rear of the
second type cylinder D'. As each inking apparatus is alike, and similarly
connected with its respective type cylinder, a description of one will suffice.
At the distance of a few inches from the type cylinder D (or D¹), and directly
opposite to its impression cylinder B (or C), is the ink-distributing cylinder G,
which may be of the same diameter as the type cylinder and moves in the
same direction, and with like velocity, having a toothed wheel w5 on its shaft,
similar to the cog wheel w on the type cylinder, an idler being placed
between them to communicate motion from one to the other. Between the
type cylinder D and the ink-distributing cylinder G, are two form rollers J, J,
(Figure 4), which revolve on their axes by rolling contact with the type
cylinder D and ink distributor G. These form rollers ink the type as the cylinder
revolves in contact with them. The pressure of these rollers against the face
of the type is regulated by bringing their bearings nearer together on the
standards f', by screws or otherwise. Beneath the ink distributor is the ink
fountain K, containing the printing ink, and partially immersed therein is a
cylindrical fountain roller or ductor L, of the same length as the ink dis-
tributor G. A scraper g (see Figures 1 and 4), attached to the sides of the
ink fountain, extends parallel to the ductor, in contact with it throughout its
entire length, so as to scrape off the superfluous ink. The ductor is revolved
by means of a band passed round a drum k¹ placed at the end of the shaft
of the ink-distributing cylinder G on the right-hand side of the machine,
so as not to interfere with the gearing on the other side, and thence round
a drum n' on a short shaft p', which carries a small pinion i, gearing into
a cog wheel m' at one end of the ductor roller L.
Thus the motion of

page_text: the ink-distributing cylinder gives a much slower motion to the ductor
roller; the relative degree of which may be changed by altering the
position of the band on the cone drums n' and k¹, which are of different
diameters. Between the ink-distributing cylinder and the ductor is interposed
a transferring ink roller N, which is a cylinder of small diameter, and of the
same length as the ductor and distributing cylinder, and has its bearings at the
extremity of the short arms r¹, r¹, one on each side of the machine. On the
right hand of the machine the arm is bent at right angles, the centre of
motion being in the angle; the long arm projecting upwards against the face
of the disc M³, and pivoted to it, as seen in Figure 14, so as to be vibrated by
the motion of the disc M', as hereafter explained. The transferring roller N
vibrates between the ink-distributing cylinder and ductor at each revolution of
the large impression cylinder, being in contact with the ductor L during about
one half of the revolution, and with the ink distributor G during the other half
revolution, as seen in Figure 4, when the transferring roller N is in one position
of the inking apparatus at one end of the machine, and in the other position
at the other end. In order to spread the ink more finely and evenly over the
surface of the ink-distributing cylinder G, a number of small distributing
rollers t¹, t, are arranged longitudinally over the upper part of the distributing
cylinder parallel to but not touching each other. These small rollers have
a lateral play of an inch or two, as well as a revolving motion on their
axes, and are therefore not quite so long as the ink-distributing cylinder.
The shafts of these small rollers have their journals in standards s, s, pro-
jecting from two discs M, M', one at each end of the distributing cylinder.
Through the centre of these discs passes the shaft of the distributing cylinder;
but they do not revolve with it, one of them M, on the left-hand side of the
machine, being fixed and stationary, and the other M', on the right-hand side,
being loose so as to allow of a partial revolution on its axis. The
standards s', s¹, &c. forming the bearings of the journals of these small
distributing rollers are attached to the discs M and M' by screws, so that they
can be raised or lowered to regulate the pressure of the rollers t¹, t, on the
distributing cylinder. The purpose of giving one of the discs on each ink-
distributing cylinder a slight motion on its axis is to shift the shafts of the
rollers out of parallelism to the axis of the cylinder, so as to give them an
inclination, first in one direction and then in the other, but at the same time
keeping the surfaces of the rollers in contact with that of the distributing
cylinder, which causes them to move sidewise to and fro along the ink-dis-
tributing cylinder, while they are revolving on their axes. This motion of the
discs, which produces the longitudinal vibration of the small distributing rollers t',

page_text: and transferring roller N, is effected by means of the rods q' and q², the former
of which is pivoted to the moving disc M' at the front end of the machine,
and the latter, q, is pivoted to the moving disc M', at the rear end of the
machine, the rod q being curved so as to avoid the second type cylinder D';
these rods q', q, are connected at z' to the free end of the lever arm 'T', which is
pivoted at 2 to the frame of the machine. On the lever arm T is a projecting
pin or roller, which enters an eccentric slotted cam U, on the axis of the
pulley a on the second impression cylinder C, so that on every revolution of the
cylinder C the lever arm T, and the rods q', q, are moved backward and
forward, and communicate their motion to the discs. Round the second
impression cylinder there are placed several endless tapes u', u', which pass
over (but not round) a series of discs P on a horizontal shaft v¹ placed in front
of the second impression cylinder, and a little above its lowest point, and thence
pass round a series of pullies Q, by which they are kept tightly stretched, so as
to press upon the edges of the discs P. As the printed sheets of paper on the
second impression cylinder are outside of the tapes, and are brought round
under the cylinder C to the point where the tapes leave that cylinder and pass
over the discs P, the sheets are carried by the tapes away from the impression
cylinder, over the discs, and under the tapes, as seen in Figure 5; the cam
guide being so situated and adjusted as to open the grippers and release the
forward end of the sheet of paper just at the point where the tapes u', u', leave
the circumference of the cylinder C. Immediately in front of the tape discs P
is a horizontal delivering roller R, which has an intermitting rotary motion
communicated to it by the mechanism for separating the sheets into piles, as
herein-after described. The grippers having released the paper, and the
forward edge of it having passed on to the discs P, it is carried forward between
the tapes u and the discs P, until the rear end drops on to the surface of the
delivering roller R, being struck down by the points of the fly rods X, as in
Figure 12. Just as those fly rods strike down the rear end of the sheet, the
curved fingers a rise up over the edge of the sheet held down by the fly rods,
and as the latter rise immediately, the curved fingers fall on the sheet, holding
it down to the surface of the delivering roller. This operation is repeated
every time that the rear edge of the sheet of paper comes within reach of the
ly rods. The intermittent rotation of the delivering roller R prevents the
accumulation of sheets of paper thereon, and drops them down on the deliver-
ing table Z at the front end of the machine; the tapes a' which are extended
over that table keeping the sheets smooth and even. The fly rods X are
much shorter than those ordinarily used in printing machines, and as they are
only required to strike down the sheets as they pass under their points, and

page_text: hold them down while the curved fingers rise and fall again over the edge of the
sheets, the stroke of the fly rods may be very short and rapid. The fly rods
are rigidly attached to the horizontal fly shaft 3 (see Figures 11 and 12) and
are so placed that the tips of the rods can strike the periphery of the delivering
roller R, as in Figure 12. One end of the fly rod shaft b2 has a short crank
pivoted to a connecting rod c², the upper extremity of which is pivotted to an
arm (see Figure 3) from which projects a pin into a slotted eccentric cam e,
attached to the extremity of the shaft of the ink-distributing cylinder G; the
slotted cam being so shaped as to leave the fly rods raised up from the deliver-
ing roller (as seen in Figure 11) during the revolution of the ink-distributing
cylinder, excepting for a moment when they are suddenly struck down to the
position shown in Figure 12, and then as suddenly raised again. The curved
fingers are made of steel, their points being elastic and turning up slightly, so
as to press on the paper and hold it firmly without tearing it; they are
rigidly attached to the finger shaft placed horizontally across the machine
under the disc shaft v', which carries the tape discs, but so that the curved
fingers pass from the rear of the shaft of the tape discs over it, and press on
the delivering roller R in front of it, as seen in Figure 5. The curved fingers
are connected with and attached to the slotted eccentric cam e by a connect-
ing rod and arm h² in like manner to the fly rods, but the pins on the arms d
and h2, which unite in the slotted cam, are so relatively situated that the fly
rods strike down just as the curved fingers rise, and rise just as the curved
fingers fall, so that during the remainder of the revolution of the slotted cam,
the curved fingers are pressed down and the fly rods are elevated, as in Figure
11. Figure 12 shows the position of these parts just as the rear end of a sheet
of paper has left the tape discs. It is only the rear end of the sheet of paper
that is acted on by the fly rods and curved fingers, and that just as it is about
to leave the machine, which is one cause of the rapid delivery by this apparatus.
The delivering table Z is placed at the front of the machine near the ground,
and under the tapes u'. It is supported at the four corners on spiral springs
resting on a base board (see Figures 2 and 3). The base board is sup-
ported by two transverse rods 1, 1, (see Figure 4) on which it slides sidewise.
Attached to the frame of the machine on a level with the base board is a bent
lever m², having its turning point at n³ (see Figure 1). To one arm of this
lever the base board of the table is connected by a rod p², and the other arm
of the lever is connected by a rod q with the lower extremity of a cam yoke r².
This cam yoke is pivoted to the frame at s. Inside the cam yoke and attached
to the projecting extremity of the shaft or axis V of the delivering roller R
revolves a cam, with one projection or operating point, which, when the

page_text: cam makes half a revolution, pushes the cam yoke to one side, and on making
the next half revolution it pushes the cam yoke back again. This alternating
movement of the cam yoke acting through the lever m² slides the base board
and the table sidewise suddenly to and fro, with a period of rest between each
movement; the length of the period of rest determines the number of sheets
to be delivered before the table is shifted. On the left of the machine the
shaft of the delivering roller R projects beyond the frame A, and on it along-
side of the cam Pare placed two ratchet wheels and 3, the former of
which is loose on its axis, and turns without causing the shaft to revolve,
while the latter is rigidly attached to the shaft. Each ratchet wheel has ten
teeth. The diameter of the loose ratchet wheel is greater than that of the
tight one. The depth of teeth in each is the same, with the exception of one
in the loose ratchet wheel, which is cut so deep as to cause the pawl that
works in the teeth of the loose wheel u, and extends over the tight wheel,
to sink deep enough to take into whichever of the teeth of the tight ratchet
wheel may be in range therewith. Thus when the pawl has turned the loose
ratchet wheel one complete revolution, it will have turned the tight ratchet
wheel one tooth, and with it the shaft of the delivering roller R one-tenth of a
revolution. This contrivance is shown in Figure 13, from which it will be
seen that the pawl enters the teeth of the ratchet wheel 2, but does not reach
the teeth in the ratchet wheel 3, but that at one point on the wheel a there is
a tooth cut deeper than the rest, which allows the pawl to reach. The arm y"
carries the pawl, and is pivoted to the connecting rod a², the other extremity
of which is attached to a pin on the cog wheel 5 on the first ink-distributing
cylinder G, so that on each revolution of that cylinder the connecting rod a²
and arm y rise and fall, causing the pawl to turn the loose ratchet wheel one
tooth, and as the ink-distributing cylinder revolves once for each sheet printed,
the ratchet wheel u will revolve once, and the loose ratchet wheel ³ will
advance one tooth when ten papers are printed and delivered, and the ratchet
wheel and cam will complete a revolution when one hundred sheets are
printed and delivered. As the cam moves the delivering table to one side
on each half revolution that it makes it will do so every time that fifty sheets
are printed. As all the main cylinders of the machine, excepting the second
impression cylinder, the feed roller, and the delivering roller, make one complete
revolution for every sheet printed and delivered, a counting apparatus may be
easily attached to any of those wheels.
This printing machine, constructed as described, may be safely run at a
speed of six thousand revolutions per hour, and when the second impression

page_text: cylinder is three times the diameter of the type cylinders (as shown in the
Drawings) it will print on both sides, deliver, and count eighteen thousand
sheets in an hour, without any other attention than is necessary to supply a
fresh roll of paper when the one before in use is expended, and to remove the
piles of paper from the delivering table.
Having thus described these improvements in letter printing machines, and
the mode of carrying the same into effect, the parts of the Invention which I
desire to secure are,-
First, the feeding of the paper into the printing machine from a continuous
web, by means of a feed roller revolving in contact with the paper roll which
rests against it.
Second, hanging the shaft of the spool of paper on bearings at the ends of
two arms rigidly attached to a shaft, which is left free to turn on its axis on a
fixed bearing, as figured and described.
Third, the use of a counterpoise, so connected with the shaft and arms
which carry the spool of paper that the degree of pressure on the feed roller
can be regulated to cause the paper to unwind without becoming loosened.
Fourth, the employment of a yielding sheath, consisting of two elastic strips,
one on each side of a serrated cutter, for the purpose of holding the paper
firmly against the edges of the slot in the female cutting cylinder while the
cutter is severing a sheet of paper from the web.
Fifth, the use of a check plate or other equivalent device, interposed
between the feed roller and the cutting cylinders, with the accompanying
arrangements described, so as to leave an interval between each sheet of
paper in its passage through the machine without retarding the continuous feed
of paper from the web.
Sixth, permitting the escape from the machine of any pieces of paper which
the grippers on the cutting cylinders fail to take hold of, by leaving a free
passage between the cutting cylinders and the first impression cylinder, so that
such scraps may fall away without reaching the impression cylinder.
Seventh, the use of a set of grippers on one of the cutting cylinders, opened
and closed by a stationary cam, or other equivalent device, by means of which
the cutting cylinder also performs the work of a "layer-on," the cutter
severing the paper when a sheet of the required length has passed between
the cutting cylinders.
Eighth, the use of a second impression cylinder of two or more times the
diameter of the type cylinder, to reduce the amount of set-off of the ink from
the printed side of the sheet.

page_text: Ninth, the application of a scrap blanket or apron interposed between the
cutting apparatus and the type cylinder and inking apparatus, to prevent any
dust or scraps of paper from falling on the type or the inking cylinders.
Tenth, the delivering apparatus, consisting of short fly rods having a rapid
stroke in a small arc up and down, so as to strike the rear ends of the printed
sheets as they pass from the machine, in combination with curved fingers for
holding the rear ends of the sheets during the up stroke of the fly rods, and
of a roller to receive the stroke of the fly rods and the pressure of the curved
fingers, and by an intermitting rotation to pass the sheets forward when
released.
Eleventh, the use of a delivering table for the reception of the printed
sheets, which alternates at intervals from side to side, for the purpose of
separating the sheets into piles of any required number, substantially in the
manner herein-before described.
Twelfth, communicating an alternating lateral movement to the small ink-
distributing rollers on the face of the large ink-distributing cylinder, by giving
a simultaneous reciprocating motion to one end of their bearings, for the
purpose of securing a more perfect and uniform distribution of the ink.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
FREDERICK COLLIER BAKEWELL. (L.S.)