IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING-PRESSES CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR PRINTING UPON WOODEN SURFACES
Year: 1883

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-PRESSES CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR PRINTING
UPON WOODEN SURFACES communicated to him from abroad by Thomas
Shepard Nowell of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America,
Manufacturer.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th December 1883.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING-PRESSES CHIEFLY
DESIGNED FOR PRINTING UPON WOODEN SURFACES [A communication to him
from abroad by Thomas Shepard Nowell of Boston, Massachusetts, United States
of America, Manufacturer.]
This invention relates to printing presses and has for its object to produce a
printing press especially adapted to printing upon wooden boxes after they are
nailed together, or upon the boards from which boxes or other articles are to be
made.
The said invention consists partly in a novel construction and arrangement of
the platen whereby it is adapted to enter the interior of a box with one of the
sides of the box interposed between said platen and the type bed.
It also partly consists in the combination of a platen constructed, arranged,
and adapted to enter the interior of a box, and an adjustable table mounted
thereon and adapted to serve as a support for the box and gauge its position
relative to the type form, vertically and transversely.
It also partly consists in the combination of a stationary platen, a type-bed
arranged to be reciprocated or otherwise moved towards and from the said platen,
and one or more board-guiding and supporting gauges adjustably secured to the
platen, and constructed and adapted to receive a board or other wooden blank to
be printed upon, fed thereto in a horizontal direction.
It also partly consists in providing means for supporting a quantity of boards
in convenient relation to the platen and type-bed and for feeding the said boards

page_text: to the position they occupy on the platen when receiving the impression from the
type.
It also partly consists in improved means for brushing or cleaning the boards
before they are printed upon; and also in adapting the platen to receive and hold
for the action of the type a piece of board of any desired thickness.
It also partly consists in certain novel details of construction hereinafter
described.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a suitable bed or frame
to the upper surface of which at one end are firmly bolted pillow blocks in which
are formed bearings for the driving shaft and the hubs of two gear wheels.
The driving shaft has mounted thereon a driving-pulley and two spur-pinions
which engage with, and impart motion to, the two large gear wheels. The latter
are provided upon their outer sides with long hubs upon which are turned journals
upon which they are mounted in the bearings of the pillow blocks.
A crank pin connects the two large gear wheels and is firmly secured thereto.
The said crank pin carries one end of a broad connecting rod or plate the opposite
end of which is pivotted at the rear end of the type-bed.
The type bed is made very heavy and fitted to move horizontally towards and
from the platen in suitable guideways formed in the upper surface of the frame,
removable caps being provided which project inward over the base flange of the
type bed and form the upper side of the guide-ways for the said bed.
To the ends of the bolt by which the connecting rod is pivotted to the type bed
are pivotted arms which, with a tie-rod, makes up the ink-roller frame and carry
the ink rollers, all constructed, arranged, and operating in a well known manner.
The ink distributing plate, the bearers for controlling the position of the inking
rolls as they pass over the type form and the "chase" for containing the type-
form may be of ordinary construction.
The platen support or head is made with a broad base flange which rests upon
the planed upper surface of the machine bed to which it is firmly secured by
heavy wrought iron bolts which extend vertically through the same, and may be
screwed into the upper portion of the said machine bed, or they may be arranged
to pass through the upper portion of said bed and be each provided with a nut,
which nut is accessible through an opening in the front end of the machine bed.
The holes in the platen head through which the bolts pass may be elongated and
one bolt may pass through an elongated or slotted hole in either, the platen head
or the machine bed thus allowing a certain amount of adjustment of the platen-
head towards or from the type-bed.
The platen plate may be cast upon the head if desired but is preferable to
cast said platen separate from the head and bolt it thereto, for the reason that to
adapt the machine to print upon large and small boxes the size of the platen must
be adapted to the size of the box to be printed, and it is much easier to change the
platen alone than the platen and head combined.
It is obvious that the platen must be as large in area as the type form to be
printed, and it is equally obvious that a platen adapted to print a form twelve or
eighteen inches long could not be used to print upon the side of a box the inside
measurement of which was less than twelve and eighteen inches respectively.
Hence it will be seen that quite a number of different sized platens would have to
be provided in order to print upon all sizes of boxes, but by making the platen
separate from the head two sizes only of the heads will be required to print upon
the various sizes of boxes up to the largest size that could be printed upon the
machine.
The platen head may be adjusted toward the type-bed by means of set screws
working in a wrought iron cross bar extending across the front end of the machine
bed and connected at its ends by oblique rods to the bearings of the two gear
wheels, the said oblique rods being provided at their rear ends with rings adapted
to fit upon the projecting hubs of the bearings.

page_text: These oblique rods serve as stay rods to take, in connection with the cross bar,
the strain applied to the platen in giving the impression.
The oblique rods are necessarily placed in an inclined position in order that a
box may be placed over the platen, or a board may be fed endwise and horizontally
between the platen and bed, but by the combination of the said oblique rods, the
cross bar, and the heavy holding-down bolts, the platen is readily made firm and
unyielding and at the same time adapted to enter the interior of a box and to have
a board fed between it and the type bed in a horizontal direction and of a width
equal to the width of the type form.
A box-supporting table is provided having in its upper face a recess, in the centre
of which is a slot cut through the said table, by means of which slot and a bolt the
said table is adjustably attached to the upper end of a bent standard the lower end
of which is fitted to a socket formed for the purpose in the platen-head and secured
therein in the desired position by means of a set-screw.
The box-supporting table may be adjusted vertically and in any desired direction
horizontally to gauge the position of the box relative to the type-form according to
the case in hand.
The platen is provided with an extension or supplemental platen which projects
in line with the said platen at one side of the machine, so that a board laid against
its surface and moved thereon will be guided to the surface of the platen proper.
The supplemental platen extension has a horizontal longitudinal slot in which is
a slide formed at one side of the extension as a dog to engage with the rear edge of
a board; the opposite side has a handle adapted to be grasped by the attendant
who is enabled by means of the said slide to force the boards along the extension
to the platen. A table adapted to support a series of boards is secured to the
extension by means of bolts passing through vertical slots in the said extension
and provided with clamping-nuts, the said slots and nuts allowing the table to be
vertically adjusted and secured at any point within its range of adjustment. This
table enables a supply of boards to be kept in a convenient position, the operator
being able to readily replace each board removed by the slide, by another, by
moving the series of boards towards the extension, using one hand for this purpose
and the other hand to operate the slide. The vertical adjustability of the table
enables it to support boards of any desired width in the proper relation to the
platen and type-bed. An adjustable gauge is secured to the table by means of a
bolt passing through a slot in the said table, and is provided with a nut at its
lower end the said gauge serving to keep the ends of the boards in line and allow
but one board at a time to be carried forward by the slide.
Two lipped guides are adjustably attached to the inner face of the platen with
their lipped edges towards each other. These guides may be adjusted to a greater
or less distance apart according to the width of the board to be printed, one guide
serves to support the board in the desired position on the platen and the lips serve
to guide the board when being fed, and to hold it in an upright position.
The said lips are made adjustable toward and from the surface of the platen to
adapt the said lips to receive and hold a board of any desired thickness. To effect
this the lips are made separate from the parts of the guides that are attached to
the platen and secured to the last named parts by bolts passing through slots in
the said lips.
A small rod is inserted in a hole bored in the edge of the platen and projects
therefrom into the slot in the extension. This rod is adjustable endwise and is
held in a fixed position by means of a small set screw and serves the purpose of a
stop to limit the movement of the slide when feeding a board toward the platen.
A brush is secured to ears on the extension in such a position that it will bear
against the outer surface of each board as it is moved along said extension on its
way to the platen, and remove therefrom any dust or loose dirt that may adhere
thereto, so that the board will present a clean surface to the type. The brush is
preferably secured rigidly to its supports but if made cylindrical in form it may be
loosened and turned from time to time as it becomes worn, to present fresh portions

page_text: to the board. The brush may be placed opposite the platen proper instead of the
extension and in fact may be used in a press in which the extension is not
employed.
In printing upon wood it sometimes happens that a knot in the board acts
injuriously upon the type in consequence of its greater hardness and consequently
unyielding nature.
To obviate this difficulty the connecting-rod is made in two parts bolted
together with a strip of india rubber interposed between thein and compressed to
such a degree that the said connecting rod shall be unyielding under a pressure
sufficient to print upon good clear stock, but yield slightly when the pressure is
increased beyond a certain point and before it becomes sufficient to injure the type.
The india rubber is preferably applied at a point near the centre of the length of
the connecting rod but it may be applied near either end of the said rod or a series
of heavy metallic springs may be used instead of the india rubber without departing
from the nature of this invention.
The platen may be stationary and the type-bed movable during the operation of
giving the impression, but it is possible to reverse this arrangement, that is to
say to make the type bed stationary and the platen movable without materially
affecting the principles of this invention.
Two radius arins are provided pivotted at one end to ears on the caps of the
bearings and at their other ends to the arms of the ink roller frame, and serve to
impart motion to the said ink roller frame or rather to act in conjunction with the
reciprocating movement of the pivotal connection of the said arms to the type bed
to cause a movement of the inking rollers to and fro over the distributing plate and
type form in a well known manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Patent Office on the 25th June
1884.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING-PRESSES, CHIEFLY
DESIGNED FOR PRINTING UPON WOODEN SURFACES. A communication to me
from abroad by Thomas Shepard Nowell, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States
of America. Manufacturer
This invention relates to printing machines and has for its object to produce a
machine especially adapted for printing upon wooden boxes after they are nailed
together, or upon the boards from which boxes or other articles are to be made
The said invention consists partly in a novel construction and arrangement of
the platen, whereby it is adapted to enter the interior of a box with one of the
sides of the box interposed between the said platen and the type bed.
It also partly consists in the combination of a platen constructed, arranged, and
adapted to enter the interior of a box, and an adjustable table mounted thereon and
adapted to serve as a support for the box and gauge its position relative to the type
form, vertically and transversely.
It also partly consists in the combination of a stationary platen, a type bed
arranged to be reciprocated or otherwise moved towards and from the said platen,
and one or more board-guiding and supporting gauges adjustably secured to the
platen, and constructed and adapted to receive a board or other wooden blank to be
printed upon, fed thereto in a horizontal direction
It also partly consists in providing means for supporting a quantity of boards in
convenient relation to the platen and type bed, and for feeding the said boards to
the position they occupy on the platen when receiving the impression from the
type.
It also partly consists in improved means for brushing or cleaning the boards
before they are printed upon; and also in adapting the platen to receive and hold
for the action of the type, a piece of board of any desired thickness
It also partly consists in certain novel details of construction hereinafter
described
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a plan of a machine constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a front end elevation,
Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line x x Figure 2 looking towards
the platen
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively a side elevation and an end elevation of a
modified form of the platen and platen support, and,
Figure 7 is a trausverse section of one of the adjustable guides secured to the face
of the platen.
A indicates the bed or frame of the machine, to the upper surface of which, at
one end, are firmly bolted the pillow blocks B. B, in which are formed bearings for
the driving-shaft C and the hubs of the gear wheels D. D.
The driving-shaft C has mounted thereon the driving-pulley C¹ and the spur-
pinions C2 C2, which pinions engage with and impart motion to the large spur
gear wheels D. D.
The gear wheels D D are provided upon their outer sides with long hubs, upon
which are turned journals by means of which they are mounted in the bearings
B. B¹ of the pillow blocks B B

page_text: E indicates a crank-pin connecting the gear wheels D, D and firmly secured
thereto. The said crank-pin carries one end of the broad connecting-rod or plate F,
the opposite end of which is pivotted to the rear end of the type-bed G, all as
shown in Figures 1 and 2.
The bed G is made very heavy, and fitted to move horizontally towards and
from the platen in suitable guideways formed in the upper surface of the frame A,
as indicated partly in dotted lines in Figure 2.
a, a indicate removable caps which project inward over the base flange of the
bed G and form the upper side of the guide-ways for said bed.
To the ends of the bolt b, by which the connecting rod F is pivotted to the
bed G, are pivotted the arms H, H, which, with the tie-rod H, make up the ink
roller frame and carry the ink rollers c, c¹, c², all constructed, arranged and
operating in a well known manner.
The ink distributing plate I, the bearers d, d for controlling the position of the
inking rolls as they pass over the type-form, and the "chase" for containing the
type form may be of ordinary construction and operate in any well known
manner.
J indicates the platen support or head made with a broad base flange J¹ which
rests upon the planed upper surface of the machine bed A, to which it is firmly
secured by heavy wrought iron bolts e e e¹ which extend vertically through the
same and may be screwed into the upper portion of the bed A, as is the case with
the bolts e. e, or they may be arranged to pass through the upper portion of said
bed and be each provided with a nut e² in the same manner as the bolt el, which
nut is accessible through the opening fin the front end of the bed A, as shown in
Figures 3 and 4.
The holes in the platen-head through which the bolts e, e pass may be elongated,
and the bolt e¹ may pass through an elongated or slotted hole in either the platen-
head or the bed A, thus allowing a certain amount of adjustment of the
platen-head toward or from the type-bed
The platen plate K may be cast upon the head J, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, if
desired, but it is preferable to cast the said platen separate from the head J and
bolt it thereto, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, for the reason that, to adapt the
machine to print upon large and small boxes, the size of the platen must be
adapted to the size of the box to be printed, and it is much easier to change the
platen alone than the platen and head combined.
It is obvious that the platen must be as large in area as the type form to be
printed, and it is equally obvious that a platen adapted to print a form twelve or
eighteen inches long could not be used to print upon the side of a box the inside
measurement of which was less than twelve or eighteen inches respectively.
Hence it will be seen that quite a number of different sized platens would have to
be provided in order to print upon all sizes of boxes, but by making the platen
separate from the head two sizes only of the heads will be required to print upon
the various sizes of boxes up to the largest size. that could be printed upon the
machine.
The platen head J may be adjusted toward the type-bed G by means of the set
screws g, g, working in the wrought iron bar L extending across the front end of
the bed A, and connected at its ends by the oblique rods M, M to the bearings of
the gear wheels D. D, the said rods being provided at their rear ends with rings m, m
adapted to fit upon the projecting hubs of the bearings B¹, B', as shown. These
rods serve as stay rods to take, in connection with the cross bar L, the strain
applied to the platen in giving the impression.
The rods M, M are necessarily placed in an inclined position, in order that a box
may be placed over the platen or a board may be fed end wise and horizontally
between the platen and bed, but by the combination of the inclined rods M, M, the
cross bar L and the heavy holding down bolts e, e¹, the platen is readily made firm
and unyielding, and at the same time adapted to enter the interior of a box and to

page_text: have a board fed between it and the type bed in a horizontal direction and of a
width equal to the width of the type-form
O indicates a box-supporting table provided in its upper face with the recess j, in
the centre of which is the slot k cut through the said table, by means of which slot
and the bolt the said table is adjustably attached to the upper end of the bent
standard n, the lower end of which is fitted to a socket formed for the purpose in
the platen-head J and secured therein in the desired position by means of the set
screw 0.
The table O may be adjusted vertically and in any desired direction horizontally,
to gauge the position of the box relative to the type-form, according to the case in
hand.
The platen K is provided with an extension K¹ which projects in line with the
said platen at one side of the machine, so that a board h laid against its surface and
moved thereon will be guided to the surface of the platen proper.
The supplemental platen or extension has a horizontal longitudinal slot q in
which is a slide s, formed at one side of the extension as a dog to engage with the
rear edge of a board h and at the opposite side as a handle adapted to be grasped by
the attendant, who is enabled by means of the said slide to force the boards h
along the extension to the platen. A table Q, adapted to support a series of
boards h, is secured to the extension K' by means of bolts & passing through
vertical slots t¹ in the extension, and provided with clamping-nuts t2, the said slots
and nuts allowing the table Q to be vertically adjusted and secured at any point
within its range of adjustment. This table enables a supply of boards to be kept
in a convenient position, the operator being able to readily replace each board
removed by the slide s by another, by moving the series of boards toward the
extension K¹, using one hand for this purpose and the other hand to operate the
slides. The vertical adjustability of the table Q enables it to support boards of
any desired width in the proper relation to the platen and type-bed. An adjustable
gauge R is secured to the table Q by means of the bolt u, passing through the
slot u in the said table and provided with a nut at its lower end, the said gauge
serving to keep the ends of the boards h in line as shown in Figure 1, and allow
but one board at a time to be carried forward by the slide s.
Two lipped guides N N₁ (Figures 1, 4 and 7) are adjustably attached to the
inner face of the platen K with their lipped edges towards each other. These
guides may be adjusted to a greater or less distance apart according to the width
of the board to be printed. The guide N serves to support the board in the desired
position on the platen, and the lips and of the guides N and N¹ serve to
guide the board when being fed and to hold it in an upright position.
The lips i, are made adjustable toward and from the surface of the platen to
adapt the said lips to receive and hold a board of any desired thickness. To effect
this the lips i, are made separate from the parts of the guides that are attached
to the platen, and secured to the last named parts by bolts v passing through slots
in the said lips, as shown in Figure 7.
A small rod w (Figures 3 and 4) is inserted in a hole bored in the edge of the
platen, and projects therefrom into the slot q in the extension K¹. This rod, which
is adjustable endwise and is held in a fixed position by means of a small set
screw w' (Figures 1 and 3), serves the purpose of a stop to limit the movement of
the slide 8 when feeding a board toward the platen.
S indicates a brush, secured to ears on the extension K¹ in such a position that it
will bear against the outer surface of each board as it is moved along said extension
on its way to the platen and remove therefrom any dust or loose dirt that may
adhere thereto, so that the board will present a clean surface to the type. The
brush is preferably secured rigidly to its supports, but if made cylindrical in form
as shown, it may be loosened and turned from time to time as it becomes worn, to
present fresh portions to the board. The brush may be placed opposite the platen
proper instead of the extension, and in fact may be used in a press in which the
extension is not employed.

page_text: In printing upon wood it sometimes happens that a knot in the board acts
injuriously upon the type, in consequence of its greater hardness and consequently
unyielding nature
To obviate this difficulty the connecting rod F is made in two parts bolted
together, with a strip of india-rubber p interposed between them and compressed
to such a degree that the said connecting rod shall be unyielding under a pressure
sufficient to print upon good clear stock, but yield slightly when the pressure is
increased beyond a certain point and before it becomes sufficient to injure the
type
The india-rubber is shown as applied at a point near the centre of the length of
the connecting rod F, but it may be applied near either end of the said rod; or a
series of heavy metallic springs may be used instead of the india-rubber without
departing from the nature of this invention
In the machine illustrated the platen is stationary and the type-bed movable
during the operation of giving the impression, but it is possible to reverse this
arrangement, that is to say, to make the type-bed stationary and the platen
movable without materially affecting the principles of this invention, and hence it
is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown and
described
P, P indicate two radius arms pivotted at one end to the ears on the caps of
the bearings B¹, B¹, and at their other ends to the arms H, H of the ink roller
frame. These arms serve to impart motion to the said ink roller frame, or rather
to act in conjunction with the reciprocating movement of the pivotal connection of
the said arms H, H to the type-bed, to cause a movement of the inking rollers to
and fro over the distributing-plate and type-form in a well known manner.
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 understood
that I Claim ;-
;-
First In a printing-press, an adjustable platen and platen-head or support
arranged to be secured in a fixed position, and adapted to enter freely the interior
of a box with one side wall of the box between the platen and the type-bed,
substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Second. The combination, in a printing-press, of an adjustable stationary platen,
a type-bed arranged to be moved towards and from the platen, and one or more
adjustable gauges arranged and adapted to receive and support a board of wood fed
thereto in a horizontal direction, substantially as described.
Third The combination of a platen and platen-head or support arranged and
adapted to enter the interior of a box, and an adjustable table also adapted to
enter the interior of the box and to gauge the position of the box vertically,
substantially as described.
Fourth. In combination with a type-bed and platen arranged and adapted to be
moved one toward the other, and means for supporting a board or other piece of
wood to be printed, a connection made in two parts and adapted, as set forth, to
transmit the impression and to yield when the pressure is increased beyond a
predetermined point, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of the stationary platen-head J, the platen K, the
reciprocating type-bed G, means as set forth for imparting a reciprocating motion
to the said bed, the cross-bar L, the oblique rods M, M, and the bearings B¹ B¹, all
arranged and adapted to operate substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Sixth. The combination of the bed A, the platen-head J, one or more bolts e, e¹,
the cross-bar L, the oblique rods M, M, and the bearings B', B', all arranged and
adapted to operate substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Seventh. In a printing press, a platen having an extension or supplemental
portion, substantially as described.
Eighth In a printing press, a platen having an extension or supplemental
portion provided with a feeding device, substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination with the platen and its extension, of a table adapted to-

page_text: support a series of boards in the described relation to the said extension, as set
forth.
Tenth. The combination with the platen and its extension, of the adjustable
table, and means for positively holding the said table in any position, to which it
may be adjusted, substantially as described.
Eleventh. The combination of the platen, the guides adapted to be adjusted
toward and from the surface of the platen, and means for securing said guides in
any position to which they may be adjusted, substantially as described.
Twelfth, In a printing press of the class described, a brush adapted to bear
against and clean the boards or articles to be printed upon, substantially as
described.
Thirteenth. The combination with the platen and its extension, of the brush
secured to ears on the extension, and adapted to bear on the boards moving along
the said extension, substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto my hand
and seal this twenty fifth day of June in the year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.