IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
Year: 1882

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings London-for an invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES A communication
from abroad by John Thomas Hawkins of Taunton Massachusetts, United
States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th May 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES OR
PRESSES [A communication from abroad by John Thomas Hawkins of Taunton
Massachusetts, United States of America.]
33
This invention relates to that class of printing presses commonly known as
cylinder presses, in which the printing is effected by means of a flat reciprocating
type-bed and a rotary impression-cylinder, and its object is to combine in one and
the same machine of simple and durable construction the following desirable
features, which, although they have heretofore, severally, or in certain groups,
appeared in presses known by different technical names, have never all been
combined in any one machine. The said features are:
First. Equal surface-velocities of impression cylinder and bed.
Second. An impression-cylinder of comparatively small diameter.
Third. Absence of all mechanism for causing the impression-cylinder to rotate in
but one direction, while the bed reciprocates or makes a double stroke
<
Fourth Absence of all mechanism for dis-articulating and re-articulating the
impression-cylinder and bed, peculiar to and distinctive of the well known stop
cylinder press."
Fifth. Absence of buffers or buffer-springs for arresting the motion of the bed
Sixth. The delivery of each sheet of paper upon the fly-board with its last
printed side upward and without the impression thereon having come in contact
with any part of the delivery mechanism."
Seventh. Entire absence of tapes or cords from any part of the machine.

page_text: Eighth. Free access to the form upon the bed, a feature specially important for
lithographic work.
The construction of the parts and the methods of delivery embodied in this
invention, whereby the above mentioned desirable features are secured will be
more clearly understood by a brief recital of certain difficulties which have
heretofore been encountered in attempting to harmoniously operate together the
impression-cylinders, the type-beds, and the delivery mechanism of certain varieties
of "
"cylinder presses in common use.
ور
In all presses in which printing is effected by means of a flat reciprocating type-
bed and a rotary impression-cylinder, it is absolutely necessary, in order to ensure
the finest and best typography, that the cylinders and beds should have equal
surface velocities, and this feature has been sought to be obtained by various means
by gearing more or less complicated, which necessitates the addition of other
devices for compensating for and taking up lost motion. Common devices for the
said purpose are the well known "register rack and segment," in conjunction with
bearing strips upon the bed, for causing friction or adhesion between them and
corresponding raised surfaces upon the cylinder. Such gearing and compensating
devices have not, however, proved entirely satisfactory in practice, in ensuring the
desired equality in surface velocity between the cylinder and bed, and the fine
quality of printing desired, notwithstanding the addition of buffer-springs for the
purpose of gradually and smoothly arresting the terminal motion of each single
stroke of the bed. The more simple plan embodied and successfully utilized in
this invention of gearing the cylinder directly to the bed and reciprocating the bed
by the revolution of a crank, thus dispensing with any necessity for using buffer-
springs, has also been essayed, by which arrangement the desired equality of
surface-velocity between the cylinder and bed is readily secured. But this crank
movement, so desirable for simplicity and efficiency and for the harmonious move-
ment of the cylinder and bed, has, when used heretofore, been met by great
difficulties in satisfactorily delivering the sheet from the impression-cylinder.
For this reason numerous devices have been interposed or super-added thereto, to
cause the cylinder to rotate in but one direction in the delivery of the slicet while
the bed reciprocated or made its double stroke, as is the case in the well known
and common form of "stop cylinder press," in which the cylinder is dis-articulated
and held at rest by suitable mechanism while the bed is retrograding and not
printing. But the necessity for alternately dis-articulating and re-articulating the
cylinder and bed at or near the respective ends of the stroke of the bed (during
which operations both must be stopped long enough to effect the purpose,) not only
introduces elements of intricacy into the mechanism, but puts a serious limitation
upon the speed at which the press might otherwise be worked, a limitation even
greater than that which also necessarily exists in all presses wherein buffers are
used to diminish the terminal momentum of the bed.
In all presses in which the impression-cylinders (instead of being stopped) make
by the interposition of special devices, one continuous revolution for each double
stroke of the bed, the said cylinders must be of very considerable diameters; and
this is also true, but to a less degree, in regard to presses in which the impression-
cylinders make two revolutions to each impression or double stroke of the bed, as
well as in regard to the stop-cylinder press. The larger the diameter of the
cylinders used the greater will be their weight and proportionate inertia. Expe-
rience has latterly shown that the finest work can be done with impression-
cylinders of the smallest diameters practically attainable, hence it follows that
small cylinders can be run with advantage at higher speeds than large cylinders,
provided perfect equality of surface velocity can be ensured between such cylinders
and their beds. Now although presses have been made with continually revolving
cylinders making three revolutions to each impression or double stroke of the bed
and therefore of small diameters, yet in all such presses heretofore constructed,
owing to the means adopted to impart the relative motions of the beds and

page_text: cylinders, equality of surface velocity has not been ensured and only an inferior
grade of work has been obtained upon such presses.
I will describe three methods of delivering the sheets from the impression-
cylinders, geared directly and continuously to crank-driven beds, as most suitable
to be employed for different kinds of printing, the first being suited for lithographic
work or for printing only one side of a sheet.
With the exception of the different modes of sheet-delivery hereinafter described,
the machines are identical in construction, the following fundamental principle
underlying them all, that is to say:-An impression-cylinder is geared directly and
continuously to a type-bed reciprocated by means of a rolling pinion geared thereto
the said pinion being caused to traverse by the revolution or throw of a crank, and
the said cylinder being rotated equally in each direction by the reciprocation of the
bed generally not less than one revolution and a half for each single stroke of
the bed, thus utilizing a cylinder of minimum diameter and also overcoming the
inertia of the bed under all conditions, without jar or strain.
According to the first method I provide a suitable frame at each side of the
machine; an impression-cylinder; a feed-board; a fly-board; ink-rollers; water-
rollers; and a reciprocating bed. A crank secured to a shaft is driven by any
suitable means or power, and to this crank is secured a crank-pin which by means
of a connecting rod is connected to another shaft serving as the axis or journal of
a roller pinion. A stationary rack is secured to the bed or roller ways of the
framing of the machine and a corresponding rack is attached to the underside of
the reciprocating bed of the press; between these racks the said rolling pinion is
geared and rotates. Journalled within a roller-frame or carriage are a series
of rollers which are secured to shafts like the aforesaid pinion to its shaft which is
also journalled in the said frame or carriage.
The said rollers revolve and traverse within roller-ways and support the bed by
its corresponding rollers-ways. This arrangement gives to the bed a rectilinear
motion or length of travel double that imparted to the carriage thus avoiding the
use of a crank of inconvenient length or too great radius. A rack is secured to
the upper side of the bed which meshes with a gear-wheel secured to the impression-
cylinder. A cam upon the crank-shaft through the intervention of rollers, a
connecting rod, crank arm, excentric rock shaft and side rods, raises and lowers
the impression cylinder sufficiently to clear the types or form at the proper time
without throwing the said cylinder and rack out of gear with each other. Another
cam upon the crank-shaft, through the intervention of a roller, connecting rod,
crank-arm, rock-shaft, two lever-arms and returning springs attached to the said
lever-arms, imparts a reciprocating motion to slides carried upon the guides. The
said guides have their ends fixed in standards secured to the frames of the machine.
The aforesaid slides carry two shafts respectively provided with two lower and two
upper jaws forming sets of travelling grippers. The upper jaws and their shaft
have no other motion than that due to the reciprocation or travel of the said slides
but the lower jaws, in addition to the same reciprocation, are caused to open and
close for the purpose of seizing the sheets between, or releasing them from, the said
jaws at the proper times. The lower jaws are kept shut by means of a helical
spring coiled around their shaft but when in the course of delivery of the sheet, a
small curved lever arin, likewise secured to the said shaft, is brought in contact
with a roller upon a bracket, it causes a partial rotation of the said shaft and
consequently the depression and opening of one of the lower jaws, which opening
releases the sheet from the gripers whence it falls upon the fly-board below.
the gripers leave the said roller they are again closed by the helical spring and so
remain until at the other end of their travel the jaws are again opened by an arm
loosely mounted upon the said shaft coming in contact with a pin secured in one
of the aforesaid standards which contact causes the said arm to rise against another
pin in the curved arin thereby turning the said shaft and depressing one of the
lower jaws.
As
Bridge or fly fingers are placed nearly at a tangent to the top of the impression

page_text: cylinder, their ends not quite touching it but supported by a rod, the opposite ends
being secured to a shaft journalled in standards. By this arrangement the said
fingers may be turned away from the cylinder for ready access to it and removal
of the ink-rollers. The points of the fingers strip the sheet head-first from the
impression-cylinder, the sheet being first released by gripers, and raised upon the
said fingers by lifter-fingers. When released by the aforesaid travelling gripers,
the sheet falls against a sheet stop forming part of the fly-board.
According to another method the cylinder is so proportioned that its fractional
revolution in excess of its one complete printing revolution is sufficient to bring
the tail of a full sized sheet sufficiently above the type line or level of the form,
at the end of the printing stroke of the bed, to permit of the sheet being stripped
from the cylinder, tail-first, during the retrogression of the bed and cylinder. The
description already given of the general features of the machine will also apply to
that now to be described
A cam upon the crank-shaft is of such form and secured in such position that
by means of a roller, connecting rod, and crank-arm, it operates, at the proper time,
a three-way cock. Another cam is of such form and so secured to the crank shaft,
that by means of a roller, connecting rod, crank arm, and rock-shaft, it operates at
the proper time to lift the plunger of a single-acting air-pump. The said plunger
is caused to descend by means of weights placed upon the stem of the said plunger,
which weights may be raised at will to regulate the pressure under which the air
is expelled from beneath the plunger, after the said roller has left the crown of the
cam, a valve opens inward to admit air to the cylinder of the pump as the plunger is
carried upward by the action of the cam and a pipe leads from the bottom of the pump
to the aforesaid cock. Branch pipes lead from the cock and across the press under the
free-board and form supports for a series of stationary sheet guides; these pipes pass
through the side frames of the machine. That part of one of the pipes leading across
the press is perforated with a line of holes so situated as to direct streams or jets of air
at an angle upward, and cause the said jets to strike the impression cylinder at, or
nearly at, a tangent to its circumference, for the purpose of lifting the tail of the
sheet from the said cylinder and ensuring its entrance upon the finger-points of
the sheet guides as the said cylinder commences to retrograde. That part of the
other pipe which extends across the press is perforated with a line of holes, so
placed as to direct streams of air in about a horizontal direction over the fly-board
for the purpose of supporting the sheet as it passes over the pile of paper already
on the fly-board and preventing contact between it and the preceding sheet until it
has arrived at the termination of its end motion in the course of its delivery. The
points of the sheet guides next the impression-cylinder are carried upwards and are
so placed as to clear the periphery of the cylinder sufficiently to escape the tail of
the sheet as it passes them on the direct or printing revolution of the cylinder. Two
series of frictional surfaced sheet driving wheels, two or more of the said wheels
being in each series, are secured respectively upon shafts journalled in the frames
of the machine. When the distance between the centres of these shafts is greater
than the length of the smallest sheet designed to be printed on the machine, an
additional shaft and series of sheet driving wheels may be placed between the said
shafts and driven in a similar manner, in order that such short sheet shall not be at
any part of its travel free from at least one set of sheet drivers.
The sheet drivers revolve in contact with the sheet guides by means of belts,
a cross belt receiving motion from a pulley secured to the axis of the cylinder and
transmitting notion to another pulley on one of the aforesaid shafts. The
pulleys are so proportioned as to give to the peripheries of the sheet drivers the same
velocity as that of the periphery of the impression-cylinder. The sheet guides are
polished upon their upper faces so that the sheets may slide easily upon them and
the conical frictional peripheries of the sheet drivers are made of india rubber or
other suitable frictional substance competent to propel the paper upon the polished
surfaces of the sheet guides. The conical shape given to the peripheries of the
sheet driving wheels keeps the sheets tightly stretched crosswise of the press.

page_text: The sheet-stop is made adjustable for varying sizes of sheet. The tail-edge of the
sheet as delivered upon the fly-board: strikes against the said stop, thus ensuring
an even pile of paper upon the board.
The sheet-drivers upon one shaft are placed within a short distance of the
impression-cylinder in order to take the tail of the sheet immediately upon its
entering upon the points of the sheet guides, and the sheet drivers upon the other
shaft are placed at such a distance from the said cylinder that the head or griper
edge of the sheet shall have just passed from under the sheet drivers by the time
the said cylinder has completed its retrograde movement and the crank bas
arrived at its dead point or centre, the object here being to overcome the momentum
or end motion of the sheet in its passage through the air, by bringing it nearly to
a state of rest at the time of its release by the sheet drivers upon the second shaft
and thus prevent its being forcibly projected against the sheet-stop when the
machine is run at a high speed. The first named can is made adjustable angularly
upon the crank shaft in order to properly time the operation of the aforesaid cock
for longer or shorter sheets. The cylinder gripers are operated to open and
close at the proper time in any of the usual manners. A very thin strip of steel
extends across the impression-cylinder and is stretched tightly in contact with the
usual blanket or tympan which covers the said cylinder. The said strip is thus
stretched by means of slotted clamps and screws in any position in the circum-
ference of the cylinder to suit different lengths of sheet. The strip of steel is
rivetted to the said clamps and the latter fit into grooves, one at each end of the
cylinder next to the cylinder bearers. These grooves are bevelled on their inner
sides, for the purpose of stretching tightly the said steel strip in contact with the
blanket or tympan, all the parts being below the impression surface of the
cylinder. The said strip has formed on one of its edges which is towards the tail
of the sheet a series of stationary sheet supporting fingers curved up slightly from
the cylinder surface. The strip with its sheet supporting fingers is so placed,
depending upon the length of sheet, that the tail of the sheet shall be upon the
slightly raised fingers and the points of the sheet guides are so placed across the
press as to come between the said fingers. The said strip and fingers being placed
so that only the points of the fingers remain under the tail of the sheet (on which
there is nearly always an unprinted margin) will all clear those parts which make
the impression. A small shaft is journalled in the frame of the machine, and
carries two or more narrow pressure rollers or wheels which are so placed as to be
in line with the sheet drivers running therefore on the unprinted margins of the
paper, and adjusted to bear lightly upon the cylinder surface or on the sheet
passing under them.
According to another method the printed sheet is delivered from the top of the
cylinder, tail first, to and upon an oscillating brush during the retrogression of the
cylinder and is thence taken and deposited by travelling gripers situated at the
back of the press under the feed board. The description already given of the
general features of the machine will also apply to that now to be described.
A shaft extends outside of the frames of the machine on the driving side of the
press and has secured to it a crank arm. To said crank arm is articulated a
connecting rod the lower end of which is connected to the cylinder journal side-
rod by a pin, by means of which and the raising and lowering of the side rod, the
bridge fingers or strippers are made to approach the impression-cylinder, as the
latter rises and to recede from it as it is lowered by one of the cams and its
connections already described. The bridge fingers or strippers are so adjusted on
the said shaft that when the cylinder, and its side rods are raised they just escape
contact with the blanket or tympan surrounding the surface of the cylinder while
with the cylinder down and printing, they are carried far enough away from the
latter to clear the tail of the sheet. A cam secured to the crank-shaft is of such
form and secured in such position that by means of a roller connecting rod and
crank arm it operates, at the proper time, lever arms, and through then travelling
gripers; this travelling griper mechanism being otherwise arranged as herein before

page_text: described. On the aforesaid shaft are secured a series of arms carrying another
shaft upon which are secured a series of revolving brushes. On the outer end of
the latter shaft is a pulley carrying a belt leading to an idler pulley upon which
runs another belt leading to a pulley secured to the axis of the cylinder. A small
shaft is journalled in the frames of the machine and carries two or more pressure 5
rollers so placed as to run on the unprinted margins of the sheet and adjusted to
bear tightly upon the sheet while it is passing under them.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th November 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co, Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES OR
PRESSES A communication from abroad by John Thomas Hawkins of Taunton,
Massachusetts, United States of America
"2
This Invention relates to that class of Printing presses commonly known as
cylinder presses, in which the printing is effected by means of a flat reciprocating
type-bed and a rotary impression cylinder, and its object is to combine in one and
the same machine of simple and durable construction, the following features, which,
although they have heretofore, severally or in certain groups appeared in presses
known by different technical names, have never all been combined in any one
machine. The said features are: Equal surface velocities of the impression
cylinder and bed. An impression-cylinder of comparatively small diameter.
Absence of all mechanism for causing the impression-cylinder to rotate in but one
direction, while the bed reciprocates or makes a double stroke. Absence of all
mechanism for dis- articulating and re-articulating the impression-cylinder and bed,
peculiar to and distinctive of, the well known "stop cylinder press." Absence of
buffers or buffer-springs for arresting the motion of the bed. The delivery of each
sheet of paper upon the fly board with its last printed side upward and without
the impression thereon having come in contact with any part of the delivery
mechanism. Entire absence of tapes or cords from any part of the machine
and free access to the form upon the bed, a feature specially important for
lithographic work.
The construction of the several parts, and the methods of delivery embodied in
this invention, whereby the above mentioned desirable features are secured, will be
more clearly understood by a brief recital of certain difficulties which have
heretofore been encountered in attempting to harmoniously operate together the
impression cylinders, the type-beds, and the delivery mechanism of certain varieties
of "cylinder presses" in common use.

page_text: In all presses in which printing is effected by means of a flat reciprocating type
bed and a rotary impression cylinder, it is absolutely necessary, in order to ensure
the finest and best typography, that the cylinders and beds should have equal
surface velocities, and this feature has been sought to be obtained by various means
by gearing, more or less complicated, which necessitates the addition of other
devices for compensating for and taking up lost motion. Common devices for the
said purpose are the well known "register rack and segment," in conjunction with
bearing strips upon the bed, for causing friction or adhesion between them and
corresponding raised surfaces upon the cylinder. Such gearing and compensating
devices have not, however, proved entirely satisfactory in practice, in ensuring the
desired equality in surface velocity between the cylinder and bed, and the fine
quality of printing desired, notwithstanding the addition of buffer-springs for the
purpose of gradually and smoothly arresting the terminal motion of each single
stroke of the bed. The more simple plan, embodied and successfully utilized in
this invention, of gearing the cylinder directly to the bed and reciprocating the
bed by the revolution of a crank (thus dispensing with any necessity for using
buffer-springs) has also been essayed, by which arrangement the desired equality
of surface velocity between the cylinder and bed is readily secured. But this
crank movement, so desirable for simplicity and efficiency and for the harmonious
movement of the cylinder and bed, has, when used heretofore been met by great
difficulties in satisfactorily delivering the sheet from the impression cylinder. For
this reason numerous devices have been interposed or super-added thereto, to cause
the cylinder to rotate in but one direction in the delivery of the sheet, while the
bed reciprocated or made its double stroke, as is the case in the well known and
common form of "stop cylinder press," in which the cylinder is dis-articulated and
held at rest by suitable mechanism while the bed is retrograding and not printing.
But the necessity for alternately dis-articulating and re-articulating the cylinder
and bed at or near the respective ends of the stroke of the bed, (during which
operations both must be stopped long enough to effect the purpose,) not only
introduces elements of intricacy into the mechanism, but puts a serious limitation
upon the speed at which the press might otherwise be worked, a limitation even
greater than that which also necessarily exists in all presses wherein buffers are
used to diminish the terminal momentum of the bed. In all presses in which the
impression cylinders (instead of being stopped) make by the interposition of special
devices, one continuous revolution for each double stroke of the bed, the said
cylinders must be of very considerable diameter, and this is also true, but to a less
degree, with regard to presses in which the impression cylinders make two
revolutions to each impression, or double stroke of the bed, as well as in regard to
the stop-cylinder press. The larger the diameter of the cylinders used the greater
will be their weight and proportionate inertia. Experience has latterly shown
that the finest work can be done with impression cylinders of the smallest
diameters practically attainable, hence it follows that small cylinders can be run
with advantage at higher speeds than large cylinders, provided that perfect
equality of surface velocity can Le ensured between such cylinders and their beds.
Now although presses have been made with continually revolving cylinders making
three revolutions to each impression or double stroke of the bed and therefore of
small diameters yet in all such presses heretofore constructed, owing to the means
adopted to impart the relative motions of the beds and cylinders, equality of surface
velocity has not been ensured and only an inferior grade of work has been obtained
upon such presses.
In the accompanying drawings three methods of delivering the sheets from the
impression cylinders geared directly and continuously to crank-driven beds are
shown as being most suitable for different kinds of printing,
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, illustrate a press and its parts most suited for lithographic
work or for printing only one side of a sheet.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lithographic press, in which the sheets are
delivered head-first from the impression cylinder.

page_text: Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same, certain parts, being omitted for the sake
of clearness of illustration.
Figure 3 is a plan of, the said machine, the feed-board being removed.
Figure 4 shows, in two views, details of parts by whose operation the travelling
gripers of the machine illustrated in the preceding Figures, are both opened and
closed.
Figure 5 illustrates in side-elevation a cylinder press, in which the sheets are
delivered tail-first from the cylinder, instead of head-first (as in the lithographic
press illustrated in the preceding Figures) by means of devices hereinafter
described
Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the machine illustrated in Figure 5 the feed-board
and part of the delivery board being omitted in order to more clearly exhibit the
delivery mechanism.
Figure 7 is a plan of the machine illustrated in the two preceding Figures, the
feed and delivery-boards being omitted.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate details of the machine shown in Figures 5, 6
and 7.
Figure 11 illustrates, in side elevation, a cylinder press, in which the sheets are
also delivered tail-first from the cylinder, by means of devices hereinafter described.
Figure 12 is a rear elevation of the machine illustrated in the preceding Figure,
the feed-board and fly-board being removed.
Figure 13 is a plan of the machine illustrated in the two preceding Figures, the
feed-board and ink rollers being omitted.
Figure 14 illustrates in two views, enlarged, certain parts, shown in Figures 11
and 12 operating to open and close the travelling gripers at each end of their
stroke.
Figure 15 is an end-elevation of the cylinder, showing a revolving delivery
brush and certain details of construction omitted in Figures 11 12 and 13 and
hereinafter described.
With the exception of the different modes of sheet delivery hereinafter described,
the machines, illustrated in all the said Figures are identical in construction, the
following fundamental principle underlying them all, that is to say, An impression
cylinder is geared directly and continuously to a type bed reciprocated by means
of a rolling pinion geared thereto, the said pinion being caused to transverse by
the revolution or throw of a crank, and the said cylinder being rotated equally
in each direction by the reciprocation of the bed (generally not less than one
revolution and a half for each single stroke of the bed) thus utilizing a cylinder of
minimum diameter and also overcoming the inertia of the bed under all conditions
without jar or strain.
Referring to figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 A indicates the side frame of the machine;
B the impression cylinder; C the feed board; C¹ the fly board; R the ink rollers;
R¹ water rollers; B₁ the bed and G a crank secured to a shaft G¹ to be driven by
any suitable means or power, to the crank G is secured the crank pin c which, by
means of the connecting rods c¹ is connected to the shaft P¹ which serves as the
axis or journal of the rolling pinion P. The stationary rack E is secured to the
bed or roller ways R2 of the framing of the machine, and a corresponding rack E¹
is attached to the under-side of the reciprocating bed of the press B', between
these racks the said rolling pinion P is geared and rotates.
Journalled within the
roller-frame or carriage K are a number of rollers E2 which are secured to shafts
S, S, as is also the pinion P to the shaft P¹ journalled in the said frame or carriage.
The said rollers E2 revolve and traverse within the roller-ways R2 and support the
bed B¹ by its corresponding roller-ways R³. This arrangement gives to the bed a
rectilinear motion or length of travel double that imparted to the carriage K thus
avoiding the use of a crank of inconvenient length or too great radius. The
rack R is secured to the upper side of the bed B¹ which meshes with the gear
wheel K secured to the impression cylinder B. The cam D upon the shaft G¹
through the intervention of the rollers D', connecting rod D2, crank arm D³,

page_text: eccentric rock shaft D and cylinder journal-side rods D³ raises and lowers the
cylinder B sufficiently to clear the types or form at the proper time without
throwing the said cylinder and the rack R' out of gear with each other. The
cam F upon the shaft G', through the intervention of the roller F' connecting rod F³,
crank arm F, rock shaft F, the two attached lever arins F³, and returning
springs F imparts a reciprocating motion to the slides F7 upon the guides F³.
The guides F have their ends fixed in standards S' secured to the frames of the
machine A. The returning springs Fe and the connecting rod F2 are for the sake
of clearness of illustration omitted from Figures 2 and 3.
The slides F7 carry
two shafts V3 V4 respectively provided with two lower and two upper jaws g
and g' forming sets of travelling gripers. The upper jaws g' and their shaft V+
have no other motion than that due to the reciprocation or travel of the slides F7
but the lower jaws g in addition to the same reciprocation are caused to open and
close for the purpose of seizing the sheets between or releasing them from the said
jaws at the proper times. The operation of the gripers g g is as follows that is
to say the lower jaws g are kept shut by means of the helical spring V³ coiled
around their shaft V3 but when, in the course of delivery of the sheet the small
curved lever arm V2 likewise secured to the shaft V3 is brought in contact with
the roller upon the bracket V, it causes a partial rotation of the said shaft V³
and consequently the depression and opening of the jaw g, which opening releases
the sheet from the gripers g, g' whence it falls upon the fly board below.
gripers leave the roller V₁ they are again closed by the spring Vs and so remain
until at the other end of their travel the jaws g are again opened by the arm Vo
loosely mounted upon the shaft V³ coming in contact with the pin p secured in
the standard S' which contact causes the said arm to rise against the pin p¹ in the
curved arm V2 thereby turning the shaft V3 and depressing the jaw g thus opening
the gripers for the insertion of the leading edge of the sheet. At this time the
slides have approached the cylinder and are nearly though not quite at rest,
the loose arm Ve therefore just passes over the pin p before the slides reverse,
thereby releasing the jaw g so that it is instantly closed upon the upper jaw g¹
thus holding the sheet between the said jaws by the reaction of the helical
spring V5
As the
For clearness of illustration the gripers g g¹ and the mechanism for opening and
closing them are omitted from Figure 2. The bridge or fly fingers bb are placed
nearly at a tangent to the top of the impression cylinder B, their ends not quite
touching it, but being supported by the rod b', the opposite ends being secured to
a shaft b2 journalled in the standards S¹. By this arrangement the said fingers
may be turned away from the cylinder for ready access to it and removal of the
ink rollers R. The points of the fingers b strip the sheet head-first from the
cylinder B the sheet being first released by the gripers K' and raised upon the
fingers 6 by the lifter fingers K². When released by the travelling gripers 9 g
the sheet falls against the sheet stop n forming part of the fly-board. Not being
essential to this invention no devices are shown for operating the cylinder gripers K'
and lifter fingers K², and for clearness of illustration the said attachments are
omitted from the cylinder in Figure 2.
The complete operation of the machine is as follows that is to say ;-the sheet
being fed to the usual guides from the feed board C is taken thence by the cylinder
gripers K just as the cylinder is brought almost. (and practically) to rest by the
arrival of the crank G at its "dead centre " correct feeding register is thus assured,
all these parts being then in a state of least motion. The crank G then passing its
centre commences to move the bed upon its forward or printing stroke, the cai D
through its connections above described having at this point just brought the
cylinder B down in position to make the impression. The bed thus put in motion
causes the cylinder to rotate forward and carry the sheet through the process of
receiving the impression. When the cylinder has completed one revolution its
gripers K' open and the lifter-fingers K², lift the advancing edge of the sheet from
the cylinder B, to enable it to enter upon the stripper fingers b. The cylinder B

page_text: is so proportioned as to make a still further portion of a revolution in the forward
or printing direction always sufficient to bring the following edge, or tail, of the
largest sheet to be printed well clear of the bed or form, the sheet is therefore
delivered by the cylinder with a portion of its length upon the fingers b until its
advancing edge reaches the point x. During this operating the cam F through
its connections above described, has caused the travelling gripers g g¹ to move from
the roller V¹ to the point x the gripers first opening and then closing upon the
advancing edge of the sheet, at the moment when the crank G has reached its
centre and when all the parts except the crank, the cams D and F, and the con-
necting rod c have again come to practically a state of rest. By the further
revolution of the crank G, the cylinder commences te retrograde and by the action
of the cam F and its connections the travelling gripers g g' draw that part of the
sheet undelivered by the cylinder from the same and over and upon the stripper
fingers thus the surface of the cylinder and the sheet at this time move in
opposite directions. The crank G now completing its rotation brings the bed
and cylinder back to their starting points ready to receive a succeeding sheet
during which operation the gripers g g' through the operation of the cam F and
its connections draw the sheet entirely off the fingers b when its following edge
drops upon the fly-board C¹ in front of the stop n and its advancing edge is then
released by the travelling gripers g g¹ as before described at the time when all the
parts except the crank G, the cams D and F and the connecting rod c¹ have again
reached a state of rest.
Referring to figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 for the method of delivery therein
illustrated, the cylinder shown is so proportioned that its fraction of a revolution
in excess of its one complete printing revolution is sufficient to bring the tail of a
full sized sheet sufficiently above the type line or level of the form at the end of
the printing stroke of the bed as to permit of the sheet being stripped from the
cylinder, tail-first, during the retrogression of the bed and cylinder. The description
already given of the general features of the machine illustrated in Figures 1, 2,
and 3., will also apply to the Figures now to be described, such features therefore
need not be again described but only certain delivery features. The cam F upon
the shaft G¹ is of such form and secured in such position that by means of the
roller F connecting rod F2 and crank arm Fs it operates at the proper time the
three-way cock F' Figure 9. The cam V Figure 10 is of such form and so secured
is
to shaft G that by means of the roller V₁, connecting rod V2, crank arm V³ and
rock shaft V it operates at the proper time to lift the plunger p' of a single-acting
air pump p. The said plunger is caused to descend by means of weights W placed
upon the stem t of the plunger p¹ which weights may be varied at will to regulate
the pressure under which the air is expelled from beneath the plunger p after the
roller V has left the crown of the cam V. A valve 23 opens inwards to admit air
to the cylinder of the pump p as the plunger pl is carried upward by the action of
cam V and a pipe p² leads from the bottom of the pump p to the cock F. Branch
pipes p p lead from the cock F and finally lead across the press under the feed-
board, and form supports for a series of stationary sheet guides g, these pipes pass
through the side frames A. That part of the pipe p leading accross the press
perforated with a line of holes h so situated as to direct streams or jets of air at
an angle upward, and cause the said jets to strike the cylinder B at, or about at a
tangent to its circumference, for the purpose of lifting the tail of the sheet from
the cylinder B and ensuring its entrance upon the finger-points of the sheet
guides g as the cylinder B commences to retrograde. That part of the pipe p*
which extends across the press is perforated with a line of holes so placed as
to direct streams of air in about a horizontal direction over the fly-board C¹ for the
purpose of supporting the sheet as it passes over the pile of paper already on the
fly-board C, and preventing contact between it and the preceding sheet until it
has arrived at the termination of its motion in the course of its delivery. The
points of the sheet guides g next the cylinder B are carried upwards, and are so
placed as to clear the periphery of the cylinder B sufficiently to escape the tail of

page_text: the sheet, as it passes them on the direct or printing revolution of the cylinder.
Two series of frictional surfaced sheet driving wheels g g (two or more of the
said wheels being in each series) are secured respectively upon the shafts g³ and g*
journalled in the frames A. When the distance between the centres of the
shafts g³ and g is greater than the length of the smallest sheet designed to be
printed on the machine, an additional shaft and series of sheet driving wheels may
be placed between the shafts g³ and g and driven in a similar manner, in order
that such short sheet shall not be at any part of its travel free from at least one
set of sheet drivers. The sheet drivers g' and g² revolve in contact with the sheet
guides g by means of the belts b and b¹ the cross belt b receiving motion from the
pulley 6 secured to the axis of the cylinder and transmitting motion to the pulley b³
on the shaft g. The pulleys b³, b4 and 6 are of equal diameter and the pulleys 62
and 6s are so proportioned, as to give to the peripheries of the sheet drivers g'
and g the same velocity as that of the periphery of the cylinder B. The sheet
guides g are polished upon their upper faces so that the sheets may slide easily
upon them, and the conical frictional peripheries of the sheet drivers g' and g³ are
made of india-rubber or other suitable frictional substance, competent to propel the
The conical shape given
paper upon the polished surfaces of the sheet guides g.
to the peripheries of the sheet driving wheels g¹g keeps the sheets tightly
stretched crosswise on the press. The sheet stop n is made adjustable for varying
sizes of sheets. The tail-edge of the sheet as delivered upon the fly-board C
strikes against the said stop, thus ensuring an even pile of paper upon the board.
The sheet drivers g¹ upon the shaft are placed within a short distance of the
cylinder B, in order to take the tail of the sheet immediately upon its entering
upon the points of the guides g and the sheet drivers g2 upon the shaft g' are
placed at such a distance from the cylinder B that the head or griper edge of the
sheet shall have just passed from under the sheet drivers by the time the
cylinder B has completed its retrograde movement, and the crank G arrived at its
dead point or centre, the object here being to overcome the momentum or end
motion of the sheet in its passage through the air, by bringing it nearly to a state
of rest at the time of its release by the sheet drivers g² and thus prevent its being
forcibly projected against the sheet stop n, when the machine is run at a high
speed. The cain F is made adjustable angularly upon the shaft G₁ in order to
properly time the operation of the cock F for longer or shorter sheets. The current
of air required to be forced from the apertures to raise the tail of the sheet upon
the points of the sheet guides g is required to be made about upon the arrival of
the tail of any width of sheet near to the points of the guides g but, as the
distance to be travelled by the tail of a sheet from the points of the said guides to
the sheet drivers g² is the same for all sizes of sheet, the longer the sheet, the
longer the time before its tail will arrive at any given point therefore the the time
for foreing the air jets from the perforations h¹ will require to be correspondingly
varied. All such variations are effected by simply changing the angular position
of the cam F upon the shaft G¹.
Figure 8 illustrates in two views, a side and end elevation of the cylinder B
showing the details of construction. The cylinder gripers K' are operated to open
In the end view of the
and close at the proper time in any of the usual manners.
cylinder, m indicates the tail of the sheet, O a very thin strip of steel extending
across the cylinder B, and stretched tightly in contact with the usual blanket or
tympan which covers the said cylinder. The said strip O is thus stretched by
means of slotted clamps o¹ in any position in the circumference of the cylinder B
to suit different lengths of sheet, by means of the screws o² and screw holes o³.
The strip of steel O is rivetted to the clamps o¹ and the latter fit into grooves, one
at each end of the cylinder B next to the cylinder bearers B2. These grooves are
bevelled on their inner sides as shown, for the purpose of stretching tightly the
said steel strip O in contact with the blanket or tympan, all the parts of and o²
being below the impression surface of the cylinder B. The thin strip O has formed
on one of its edges which is towards the tail of the sheet ma series of stationary

page_text: sheet supporting fingers o' curved up slightly from the cylinder surface. The strip
O with its sheet supporting fingers of is so placed, (depending upon the length of
sheet) that the tail of the sheet m shall be upon the slightly raised fingers o* and
the points of the guides gare so placed across the press, as to come between the
fingers o. The strip O and fingers of being placed so that only the points of
the fingers of remain under the tail m of the sheet (on which there is nearly always
an unprinted margin) will all clear those parts which make the impression and as
such parts are alone required to be "typehigh" and are upon the bed (the chase
furniture and the like always being on a plane below the surface of the types,
except upon lithographic presses in which the level of the stone surface extends
beyond the design, and to which class of printing this method of supporting the
tail of the sheet is not applicable) the strip O and fingers o' come in contact with
nothing in passing through the impression. The object of keeping the tail of the
sheet slightly elevated by the fingers of is to ensure the entrance of the air jets
from the perforations h between the sheet and the surface of the cylinder B and
also the entrance of the tail of the sheet upon the sheet guides g. A small shaft j
is journalled in the frames A and carries two or more narrow pressure rollers or
wheels J which are so placed as to be in line with the sheet drivers g' running
therefore on the unprinted margins of the paper, and adjusted to bear lightly upon
the cylinder surface or on the sheet passing under them causing friction between
the cylinder surface and the sheet, and thus ensuring its being carried backward
by the cylinder B during the commencement of its retrograde motion, and until the
sheet shall have fully entered between the sheet guides g and the sheet driving
wheels g².
The complete operation of this machine is as follows:-that is to say the
sheet is fed to the usual guides from the feed board C, is taken thence by
the cylinder gripers K¹ just as the cylinder B comes practically to rest, in
consequence of the crank G reaching its dead point or centre at this time.
Correct feeding register is thus ensured, all parts connected with the feeding
and griping of the sheet having then only a slight motion. The crank G now
commences to move the bed B₁ upon its forward or printing stroke, the cam
D through its connections heretofore described, having at this point brought down
the cylinder B into position to make the impression. During this time the cam V
hns through its connections already described raised the plunger p¹ and the
roller V has passed from the crown of the cam permitting the weight W to act
to depress the plunger p³ at about the completion of the printing stroke of the
bed B' if the sheet be of the full size designed for the machine to print; and the
cam F through its connections already described, causes the cock F* to open
momentarily between the pipe p² and the branch pipe p by the roller F passing
into the depression f (Figure 5) of the cam F and projecting jets of air from the
perforations in pipe ps under the tail end of the sheet, as the cylinder B com-
mences its retrograde inotion. If the sheet be less than full size the tail will have
more or less distance to travel backward with the cylinder B before reaching the
points of the sheet-guides g and in such cases the cam F is so placed upon the
shaft G' as to open the cock F at the proper time. The jets of air from the
perforations h raise the sheet to pass upon the sheet guides g and between the
outer two of the said guides (situated under the side margins of the sheet) and
the sheet drivers gl. The crank G now continuing its revolution causes the bed B¹
and with it the cylinder B to perform its retrograde or non-printing stroke, at the
commencement of which the cam D through its connections, has again raised
the cylinder B to clear the type or form. By the time the tail of the sheet m has
fairly entered upon the points of the sheet guides g the cam F through its con-
nections causes the cock F to cut off communication between the pipes p2 and på
as shown in section Figure 9 and it is maintained in that position until the tail m
of the sheet has passed along the sheet guides g under the sheet drivers g² when 5
the cam F opens communication between the pipes p² and p' then by the further
action of the weight W jets of air are projected from the perforations h' in the

page_text: pipe p supporting the sheet as it passes out over the pile of paper on the fly
board C until the tail of the sheet m reaches the stop n when the cam F again
closes the cock F into the position shown in Figure 9. The cylinder gripers K¹
are caused to seize and release the sheet at the proper times by any of the well
known methods, the release in this case being permissible at any time after the
tail m has passed upon the points of the guides g and before the head or griper
edge shall have reached the same point on the retrograde stroke of the bed and
cylinder. The sheet when released by or having passed entirely from under the
sheet drivers g settles by its own gravity quietly down upon the fly-board C¹, or
the preceding sheet.
Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 illustrate the method of delivering the printed
sheet from the top of the cylinder tail-first to and upon an oscillating brush during
the retrogression of the cylinder whence it is taken and deposited by travelling
gripers situated at the back of the press under the feed board. In these last
named figures all that relates to the operation of the cylinder gripers, the feed
guides and the inking apparatus is omitted, as forming no part of this invention,
and because all such may be arranged in any well known manner best suited to
the particular form of press or kind of work required. The description already
given of the general features of the machine illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, will
also here apply to the figures now to be described; such features therefore, need
not be again described, but only certain delivery features as follows, that is to say:
The shaft extends outside of the frames A on the driving side of the press, and
has secured to it a crank arm 62. To the said crank arm is articulated a connecting
rod be the lower end of which is connected to the cylinder journal side-rod DB by
a pin b, by means of which and the raising and lowering of the side rod D³ the
bridge fingers or strippers 61 are made to approach the cylinder B as the latter
rises, and to recede from it as it is lowered by the cams D and its connections
already described. The bridge fingers or strippers b¹ are so adjusted on the
shaft that when the cylinder B and its side rods D5 are raised, they just escape
contact with the blanket or tympan surrounding the surface of the cylinder while
with the cylinder B down and printing they are carried far enough away from the
latter to clear the tail of the sheet. The cam F secured to the shaft G¹ is of such
form and is secured in such position, that by means of a roller F¹ connecting rod F²
and crank arm F³ it operates at the proper time the lever arms F5 and through
them the travelling gripers g g'. The said travelling griper mechanism is arranged
as herein before described. On the shaft bare secured a series of arms bibl
carrying a shaft h, upon which are secured a series of revolving brushes h'. On
the outer end of the shaft h is a pulley 6 carrying a belt * leading to a pulley h*
upon which runs another belt h³ leading to a pulley secured to the axis of the
cylinder. A small shaft j is journalled in the frames A and carries two or more
pressure rollers j¹ so placed as to run on the unprinted margins of the sheet, and
adjusted to bear tightly upon the said sheet while it is passing under them, thus
causing friction between the cylinder surface or tympan and the sheet and
ensuring the backward carriage of the sheet by the retrogression of the cylinder B
during its retrograde rotation.
The operation of the machine is as follows that is to say the cylinder B rotates
sufficiently more than one complete revolution forward to bring the tail of the
sheet above the brushes h. Upon the commencement of the retrograde or non-
printing stroke of the bed and retrogression of the cylinder the brushesh' strip the
tail of the sheet from the cylinder, the sheet passing over the top of the brushes.
At the proper time the travelling gripers g g seize the advancing tail of the sheet,
and convey it at the same rate of motion as the surface of the cylinder B travels
backward to the fly board C" and there deposit it, the cam F being so formed as to
bring the gripers g g³ gradually to rest by the time the retrograde stroke of the bed
is completed.
I do not confine myself to the methods herein shown and described for oscillating
the bridge fingers or brushes or of raising and lowering the cylinder B or of

page_text: imparting motion to the travelling gripers g g as these movements may all be
effected in many well known manners as may be best suited to the kind and
proportions of press required.
By means of the machines herein described and forming the subject of my
invention not only are the several desirable features hereinbefore detailed as
forming the object of the invention obtained but also the following additional
features contributing thereto or flowing therefrom, namely With three different
methods of delivery provided for, a minimum diameter of cylinder is obtained
whose entire periphery is utilized as impression surface, except the narrow gap or
recess necessary to contain the griper and lifter-fingers and blanket rods, thus
ensuring the sharpest impression and a minimum of weight and strain upon the
machine with a corresponding high speed of press. By the employment of the
crank movement, the easiest reciprocating motion of the bed without the use of
buffers or springs is obtained, and the cylinder has imparted to it the same easy
gradation of motion as is given by the crank to the bed, and a surface velocity
while printing, exactly equal to that of the bed. The sheets are taken by the
cylinder-gripers from the feed-board when the cylinder and its gripers are nearly
at rest, thus ensuring accurate register, and the delivery gripers, as shewn in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 both seize and release the sheets when the
said gripers are nearly at rest, ensuring an even pile of paper upon the fly-board;
and, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, the sheets are brought practically to
a state of rest before they are released by the delivery mechanism. The use is
avoided of all locking and unlocking devices, intermediate gearing, universal joints
and other objectionable devices for causing the cylinder to rotate in one direction
only, or for causing it to stop during the retrogression of the bed, for the purpose
of sheet delivery, and the delivery of the sheets upon the fly board without contact
of the last printed impression with any part of the delivery mechanism, avoids all
possibility of smutting or soiling the work, no tapes, strings, or cords being used.
All these improvements are obtained upon machines which as a whole are cheap
simple and durable and capable of running at a high speed and doing correct and
fine typography.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it under-
stood that I am aware that it is not new to merely rotate the impression cylinder
of a printing press in one direction, while printing, and in the reverse direction
during the retrogression of the reciprocating bed, by gearing the said cylinder
directly to the bed. Also that it is not new to merely deliver the printed sheets
head first from the top of the impression cylinder to fly or bridge-fingers or other
devices, which are designed to strip the sheet from the cylinder, while the latter is
rotating in one direction only, or stops at or near the end of the impression. Also
that it is not new to merely use travelling gripers in connection with the printing
mechanism of a printing press, but I claim, in a printing machine or press :-
First An impression cylinder constructed to deliver printed sheets from its
top, and geared directly to a reciprocating type bed, and proportioned so as to
make a considerable fraction of a revolution more than one complete revolution in
each direction for each single stroke of the bed, whereby each sheet is partially
delivered head-first with its last printed side upward by a cylinder of minimum
diameter, during the latter portion of its forward or printing rotation, to the
delivery mechanism, when the cylinder is reversed by the bed to its initial point
under the still progressing sheet, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Second An impression cylinder geared directly to a reciprocating type bed
and alternately rotated thereby an equal distance in each direction, in combination
with means substantially as described for taking a printed sheet head first from the
top of the impression cylinder and discharging the said sheet partly during the
forward or printing rotation of the said cylinder and partly during its retrograde
or non-printing rotation, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Third:-In combination with a reciprocating type bed and an impression

page_text: cylinder geared directly thereto and so proportioned as to make a considerable
fraction of a revolution more than one complete revolution in each direction for
each single stroke of the bed, a series of stripper fingers and a series of travelling
sheet-gripers, whereby the sheets are first partially delivered head first to and upon
the said fingers by the said cylinder during a part of its forward rotation and then
during its retrograde rotation removed by the said gripers from the said fingers
and cylinder and completely delivered, with the last printed side upward, upon the
fly-board, substantially as set forth.
Fourth: An impression cylinder constructed to deliver printed sheets from its
top and geared directly to a reciprocating type bed, and proportioned so as to
make a considerable fraction of a revolution more than one complete revolution in
each direction for each single stroke of the bed, whereby the sheets are delivered
tail-first at high speed with the last printed side upward, by a cylinder of minimum
diameter, during its retrograde or non-printing rotation, to the delivery mechanism,
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Fifth An impression cylinder, stationary sheet guides, frictional surfaced
sheet driving wheels and means for furcing two series of jets of air under the sheets
in the course of delivery, in combination with means for transmitting motion to
the said parts substantially as described, each movement being so timed in relation
to the others that one series of air jets is first forced against the surface of the
cylinder under the tail-edge of each sheet and then the sheet is delivered tail first
from the top of the cylinder to and between the said sheet guides and frictional
surfaced driving wheels and finally discharged with its last printed side upward,
upon another series of air jets, to the fly board, all substantially as set forth.
Sixth-In combination with an impression cylinder and secured thereto, a series
of stationary but adjustable sheet supporting fingers, whereby the margin of each
sheet is supported out of contact with the surface of the cylinder, thereby
facilitating the delivery of the sheet, substantially as set forth.
Seventh-The combination, with an impression cylinder provided with a series
of stationary but adjustable sheet supporting fingers substantially as described, of
means for forcing jets of air against the surface of the cylinder between the said
fingers and under the sheet to be delivered, substantially as, and for the purposes,
set forth.
Eighth The combination, with an impression cylinder, of means substantially
as described for alternately forcing jets of air first under the delivery edge of the
sheet to raise it from the cylinder and then under the body of the sheet to float it
in horizontal position to the delivery board, whereby the use of either tapes, cords
or fly is entirely eliminated from the delivery mechanism, substantially as, and for
the purposes, set forth.
Ninth-In combination with an impression cylinder, a series of two or more
jet pipes and means substantially as described for alternately forcing air jets
through the said pipes, whereby the edge of the sheet to be delivered is first
clevated by one series of air jets, preparatory to its delivery, and the delivery com-
pleted by the support given to the sheet by another series of air jets, substantially
as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Tenth-In combination with a reciprocating type bed and an impression
cylinder provided with sheet supporting fingers and geared directly to the said bed
so as to make a considerable fraction of a revolution more than one complete
revolution in each direction for each single stroke of the bed, a series of stationary
0 sheet guides, sheet driving wheels and jet pipes and means substantially as
described for forcing air through the said pipes, substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
Eleventh-In combination with an impression cylinder, a series of oscillating or
vibrating sheet stripper fingers, a series of rotary brushes and means substantially
5 as described for imparting motion to the said fingers and brushes, whereby the
edge of each sheet is elevated and stripped preparatory to being delivered from the
said cylinder, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.

page_text: Twelfth I combination with a reciprocating type bed and an impression cylinder
geared directly to the said bed and proportioned so as to make a considerable
fraction of a revolution more than one complete revolution in each direction for
each single stroke of the bed, a series of oscillating stripper fingers and a series of
rotary brushes, situated at the back of the cylinder, whereby the sheets are
delivered tail-first, with the last printed side upward, by a cylinder of minimum
diameter, during its retrograde or non-printing rotation, to the delivery mechanism,
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Thirteenth An impression cylinder, a series of oscillating stripper fingers and
rotary brushes, and reciprocating or travelling sheet gripers, in combination with
means substantially as described for transmitting motion to the said parts, each
movement being so timed in relation to the others that each sheet is delivered tail-
first from the top and back of the cylinder upon the said brushes and stripper
fingers and thence seized and the delivery of the sheet completed by the said
gripers, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Tenth day of November in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two:
W². RUD“, LAKE
(4.5.)