Improvements in or connected with Lithographic Printing Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1394
Complete Specification Left. 25th Feb.. 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Lithographic Printing
Machines.
We, ALFRED JUBB of Alfred Jubb and Son, Limited, of Albany Printing
Works, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Printers and Stationers and JAMES CHALMERS
of Birkby, Huddersfield aforesaid Foreman Lithographer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to lithographic printing machines and consists in
combining with such machines, means, whereby the paper or cardboard shall be
dried or matured as it is fed into the machine so that no shrinking or enlarging
of its bulk or surface shall take place during the process of printing.
As is well known in the trade, the tendency of paper or cardboard to alter its bulk
or surface by shrinkage or expansion during the process of lithographic printing
makes it exceedingly difficult to obtain good results in the prints by reason of a
colour or colours not occupying the exact position or positions on the paper it or
they were designed to do, and, as the slightest alteration in the surface of the
paper frequently causes the design or picture to be spoilt, it is of consequence that
the paper should be maintained in the same condition throughout the printing
process if the production of imperfect or spoilt work is to be avoided.
Various methods have been adopted for "maturing" the paper or cardboard but
without satisfactory results, the paper being still liable to further change of bulk or
surface or to be acted upon by atmospheric changes.
46
"
The object of our invention is to mature the paper or cardboard immediately
before it is taken round by the impression cylinder so that the condition of the
paper shall be equably maintained throughout the whole process of printing.
In carrying out our invention we employ a brass or other suitable metal feed
table or plate in lieu of the present feed board and having similar fittings.
Suitably disposed under the said feed plate are gas jets from which flames of gas
issue and heat the table or plate to the required temperature. Instead of employing
gas as the heating media we may form the said table or plate hollow, or make a
chamber or chest underneath it and charge the same with steam or hot air. The
paper or cardboard as it is fed to the printing machine is dried or matured as it
rests upon the hot feed table or plate and is then immediately seized by the
grippers on the impression cylinder and carried around and pressed against the
printing bleck or stone.
As a modification of our invention we may cause the paper or cardboard to
travel between two hot plates or curved surfaces, or between a pair of hollow
rollers heated by hot air, steam or gas.
By the means and method above described the paper or cardboard to be printed
on is always matured or dried under the same equal conditions and immediately
preceding the giving of the impression whereby no opportunity is afforded for

page_text: change of bulk or surface of the paper or cardboard by shrinkage or expansion, and
more perfect and regular work can be accomplished.
Dated this 20th day of June 1894.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Agents for Applicants.
Improvements in or connected with Lithographic Printing
Machines.
We, ALFRED JUBB, of Alfred Jubb and Son, Limited, of Albany Printing
Works, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Printers and Stationers, and JAMES CHALMERS,
of Birkby, Huddersfield, aforesaid, Foreman Lithographer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to printing or lithographic machines wherein two or
more impressions from the stone or forme have to be given; and our improvements
consist in combining with such machines means whereby the paper or cardboard
shall be shrunk, dried or matured as it is fed into the innchine and immediately
before receiving the impression, so that no stretching or like alteration of the paper
tending to cause the impression given to be longer or shorter than that on the stone.
shall take place during the process of printing or lithographing.
As is well known in the trade, the tendency or liability of printing and litho
graphic paper or cardboard to stretch or expand or otherwise suffer alteration of
surface during the process of printing, makes it exceedingly difficult to obtain good
results or accurate and exact register in the prints by reason of a colour or colours
or subsequent impressions being enlarged or reduced or not occupying the exact
position or positions on the paper or print it or they were designed to do, and as
the slightest variation in the register frequently causes the print to be spoilt, it is
of consequence that the paper should be maintained or presented for each subsequent
impression in the same condition throughout the printing, if the production of
imperfect or spoilt work is to be avoided.
The object of our invention is to mature the paper immediately before it is taken
round by the impression cylinder so that the condition thereof shall be equally
maintained, and a more exact and accurate register ensured at each printing, than
the methods and means previously adopted for such purpose can he relied upon
to give.
Such being the nature and object of this our said invention, we will now proceed
to fully describe and ascertain same, and for such purpose make reference to the
annexed sheet of drawings forming a part of this Specification, wherein :-
Fig. 1 is elevation of part of a lithographic or printing machine having the near
side frame thereof omitted and showing in section, our improved hot feed plate or
table for drying, shrinking or maturing lithographic or printing paper applied
thereto.
Fig. 2 is plan view of a portion of the hot feed plate or table.
Figs. 3 and 4 show modifications for heating the feed plate as hereafter
referred to.
In the drawings, A represents our improved hot feed plate or table which takes
the place of the ordinary wooden feed board over which the paper to be printed on
is placed and fed to the cylinder B.
The said hot plate is made of brass or other suitable metal and is secured to the
side frames C of the machine by screws or equivalent means; the under sides of
each edge of the plate being grooved or faced to fit the inclined edges of the
framework supporting it. The lower or bottom portion of the plate A is preferably

page_text: made separate from, and is hinged to the upper portion at a, in order that it can be
raised to give access to the cylinder or parts underneath the feed plate where are
situated gas pipes D, of which there may be any number, arranged as desired, each
extending from side to side of the machine and being perforated or provided with
burners at short intervals apart on the upper sides thereof. The gas for heating
plate A is supplied through pipe E, from which it enters into mixing chambers F
on the ends of the pipes D, and the mixture of gas and air then passes into said
pipes and is ignited at the perforations or burners, the jets of gas or heat from
same impinging on the underside of the hot plate A and heating it to the required
temperature. The supply of gas to the pipes D may be regulated or shut off by
taps G, one for each pipe.
Slots are formed in the hot plate A for the ordinary gauges c (one only of which
is shewn) to work in, and the rod or rods d for actuating same are supported in
bearings e secured to the underside of the plate.
The sheets to be printed on are fed or placed one at a time in the ordinary
manner, onto the plate A, the heat of which dries, shrinks or matures the paper as
it rests thereon, that is, immediately prior to being caught hold of by the grippers H
and carried around with the cylinder B, whereby there is no opportunity offered, or
sufficient exposure given to the paper from the time it is matured to receiving the
print to allow of changes of temperature or moisture of the atmosphere affecting
its condition, and as it is subjected to an equal temperature for maturing purposes
previous to each impression or printing, it follows that the condition of the paper
will be equally maintained at each printing and the same exact and accurate
register ensured in the subsequent as in the earlier impressions on the same
sheet.
Instead of employing gas for heating the plate A, we may make the said plate
hollow, somewhat as shewn in Fig. 3, or provide a chamber or recess A' underneath
it, as shewn in Fig. 4, and charge with or circulate steam or hot air therethrough;
or as a modification of our invention we may cause the paper to pass or travel
between two hot feed plates or between a pair of hollow rollers heated by hot air,
steam or gas. Our improved hot feed plate may be applied to any construction of
lithographic or printing machine in which two or more impressions from the stone
or forme have to be given to complete the print.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we would have it understood
that we are aware that it has been previously proposed to dry, shrink or mature
paper before and during the process of printing in colours, and we make no
claim at large to such treatment of the paper, but we declare that what we
claim is :-
The combination, with printing or lithographic printing machines, of a hot feed
plate or table, such as A, for drying, shrinking or maturing lithographic or printing
paper immediately before it is carried around by the impression cylinder to receive
the printing, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein shewn and
described.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Patent Agents.