IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MODE OF AND MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING IN Two OR MORE COLORS SIMULTANEOUSLY
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bland, of 42, Cable Street, Lancaster, in the
County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO THE MODE OF AND MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING IN Two
OR MORE COLORS SIMULTANEOUSLY."
Sealed the 17th October 1879, and dated the 21st April 1879,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bland at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st April 1879.
WILLIAM BLAND, of 42, Cable Street, Lancaster, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MODE OF AND MACHINERY AND
APPARATUS FOR PRINTING IN TWO OR MORE COLORS SIMULTANEOUSLY.'
"
By this Invention an object long desired by the printing trade is attained, viz.,
printing in two or more colours simultaneously from one forme," thus saving
incalculable labour at a very little expense, as it at once entirely dispenses with
the necessity of the careful adjustment in imposing the coloured lines in separate
"formes" (which is in many instances only accomplished with very great incon-
venience and trouble), and twice making ready for printing and the double working
off, which often results in inaccurate register of the lines, however great care may
have been taken.
The type is more convenient; being cast in plates it can in many instances be
easily put into cases, and even the largest sizes will only occupy a very small space
to what is required for ordinary type, and will consequently be much less cumber-
some; also alterations of the combination type lines can be made without unlocking
the forme. The combination type can also be used as ordinary type, and the
clumps and inclined stays can be used as furniture when not required for coloured
lines. The means by which the object is attained may be varied without departing
necessarily from my Invention.
The principle upon which the Invention is worked involves the manufacture of
a new form of combination type together with special appliances, or the stereotyping
of lines or parts of "formes" and with special apparatus to give them the required
form, so as to enable them to be worked in the same manner as the combination

page_text: type by the same appliances, by means of which (both being lower than the
ordinary type) they may be raised successively to a level with or above the
ordinary type for inking and printing along with ordinary type.
In the first place type is cast or stereotyped in the ordinary known ways-in the
form of plates, and by a dovetailing process is mounted onto a carriage which is
peculiarly constructed and made to combine together by dovetailing or otherwise
to any length required; by this dovetailing the mechanical apparatus may also be
fixed at one end of the carriage and a runner or roller at the other end to facilitate
the vertical movement of the carriage. The carriage has the appearance of a bridge
heving supports or feet running under it at right angles to the length of the line,
and on either side at the bottom of each support or foot there is a projecting toe
(formed by plaining or otherwise), thus making the bottom of the carriage or
stereotype broader than the upper part.
A special kind of clump having a shoulder running along the top, with pro-
jections at regular distances for securing the inclined or the superior stays, is
placed on each side of the carriage carrying the type or the stereotype intended
for a different colour, the shoulders of the clumps being turned towards each other;
under each span of the carriage or stereotype an irregularly inclined stay is passed,
both ends of which are secured into the clumps, and the stays being a little wider
than the bottom of the carriage or stereotype gives these latter free play between
the clumps when the forme is locked up. A mechanical contrivance is fixed at
the end of each line or part intended to be worked in colours, by which the carriage
carrying the type or the stereotype is made to move up or down the inclined stays;
the mechanical contrivance for raising the colour lines or parts may be worked
together by the hand on a press or by a special applianco fixed to a printing
machine.
By these means the type or stereotype is raised to its full height; the toe at the
side of each foot becomes locked under the shoulders of the clumps while resting on
the top of the inclined stays, and while thus secured enables the coloured inking
rollers to pass over without the other parts of the forme being touched. Thus if
the other part of the "forme" had been inked while the combination type or stereo-
type was depressed, all that would be necessary to do would be to slide the lines
down to the middle of the inclined stay, when it would be on a level with the
other type, and the whole "forme" with its different coloured lines could be printed at
one impression, and the operation repeated in the same way for each impression.
The principle may be extended thus-An ordinary "forme," or blocks, or lines
may be stereotyped with feet similar to those on the carriage aforesaid, and when
prepared with the toes on each side may be worked in the same way between the
shouldered clumps; or a superior stay may also be placed under each span of
carriage or stereotype, and being made a little wider than the inclined stays will
leave them free to be worked by means of a connecting bar passing under and
fixed to the base of each inclined stay under the feet of the type carriage or stereo-
type, by which process they would be raised or lowered vertically in their exact
places, thus securing the exact register of the parts in the different colours. In
this way a single letter, or word, or lines, or parts of a combination letter, or parts
of a block, or a stereotype page within a border, may be raised vertically ready for
inking, and afterwards dropped to a level for printing along with the other part
or depressed to allow the other type to be inked without its being touched while
a different coloured roller passes over.
"
"
In casting the carriage for type or stereotyping lines or formes a special kind
of core is required, so as to produce in either the carriage or stereotype feet of the
required depth, which will allow the same to be worked, as above stated, for
printing in different colours simultaneously. Also a special core is required to

page_text: produce the dovetail of the type when the latter is cast in an ordinary stereotype
foundry. A special plane is also required for planing the stereotype to produce the
required shape to form the toe on either side of each foot of the stereotype when it
is not cast with the toe on it.
A special kind of core mould is required to cast the superior stays and also for
casting the inclined stays and clumps.
The apparatus for moving the carriages or inclined stays can be of any con-
venient mechanism, such as toggle levers, cams, excentrics, screws, rack and pinion,
or worm.and rack, the main point being that the longitudinal movement shall be
exactly regulated, so as to stop at the top, bottom, or middle levels of the inclined
planes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Bland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
October 1879.
WILLIAM BLAND, of 42, Cable Street, Lancaster, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MODE of AND MACHINERY AND
APPARATUS FOR PRINTING IN TWO OR MORE COLOURS SIMULTANEOUSLY."
By this Invention an object long desired in the printing trade, that is, printing
in two or more colours simultaneously from one forine is attained, thus dispensing
with the necessity of the careful adjustment in imposing the coloured lines in
separate formes (which is in many instances only accomplished with great incon-
venience and trouble), twice making ready for printing, and the double working off,
which latter often results in an inaccurate register of the lines whatever care may
have been taken. This type is more convenient being cast in plates. It can in
many instances be easily put into cases, and occupies a very small space compared
with ordinary type, and is consequently much less cumbersome. Alterations of the
type lines can be made without unlocking the forme. My combination type can
also be used as ordinary type, and the clumps c and inclined stays b can be used as
furniture when not required for coloured lines. I cast or stereotype in any of the
known ways type in plates, and mount it on a carriage A, which is capable of being
raised above or depressed below the level of ordinary type, so that the inking roller
may only ink one portion of the type at a time, thus enabling the other portion
when exposed to be inked by a different coloured roller, the process of printing
then being carried on with two or more colours simultaneously. The type is attached
to the top of the carriage A by means of a dovetail projection cast beneath it, or
the carriage and letters may be cast in one piece, as shown in Fig. 3. The carriage
is jointed together by dovetailing or otherwise to any length required, and has the
appearance of a bridge having supports or feet a running under it at right angles
to the length of the line, and on either side, at the bottom of each support or foot,
there is a projecting toe (formed by planing or otherwise), thus making the bottom
of the carriage or stereotype broader than the upper part. A clump c, having a
shoulder running along the top, and a vertical indentation on the side for the
purpose of securing the inclined stays b or the superior stays d, is placed on each
side of the carriage carrying the type or stereotype (intended for a different colour),
the shoulders of the clumps c being turned towards each other; under each span of
the carriage or stereotype an irregularly inclined stay b is passed, both ends of
which, having a small staple inserted therein which projects into indentations in the
clumps c, are secured to the clumps c; the stays being wider than the bottom of the
carriage or stereotype, gives these latter free play between the clumps c when the
forme is locked. A slide B is fixed at the end of the carriage, by which it is made
to move up or down the inclined stays; this may be worked by hand on a press or
by a cam, as in Fig. 9, fixed to a printing machine. The type or stereotype is thus
raised to its full height; the toe at the side of each foot becomes locked under
the shoulders of the clumps, see Fig. 10. While resting on the top of the
inclined stays b, and while thus secured, the coloured inking roller passes over
without the other parts of the forme being inked. The other part of the
forme is inked while the combination type is depressed, and the feet a are now
slid to the middle of the inclined stay b levelling all the type, and the form with its
different coloured lines is printed at one impression, and the operation is repeated
in the same way for each impression. In this way a single letter, word, or line,
part of a combination letter or block, or a stereotype page within a border may be
raised vertically ready for inking, depressed to allow the other type to be inked,
and afterwards dropped to a level with the other type in the forme for printing.
My Invention is best described by aid of the accompanying Drawings, like
letters referring to like parts throughout, in which Fig. 1 and 2 show a view of

page_text: the general arrangement of that part of my Invention by which the printing
operation is performed; Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, detailed views of the several
parts; Fig. 10, a sectional end view of the same; Fig. 11, my improved type
foundry; Figs. 12 to 21, details of the same, showing the different moulds and
cores which I use in casting the various parts of my improved combination type;
Fig. 22, my improved plane, and Fig. 23 a friction roller. The type, which is cast
in plates, is mounted on a carriage A (or the whole may be cast in one piece,
Fig. 3), to which are cast projections or feet a, is raised or lowered for the purpose
of inking by being slid up or down inclined planes or stays b, either by being
moved along these, as shown in Fig. 2, or by the inclined stays b being moved
under the carriage, as shown in Fig. 1. The inclined stays bare held stationary
in Fig. 2 by clumps c, Fig. 4 being placed along either side, the indentations of the
clumps c holding the stapled ends of inclined stays b. In Fig. 1 where the inclined
stays are movable, the staples being withdrawn from the ends of superior stays d
(view of which is shown in Fig. 8), are inserted, the latter having staples fixed in
each end, which fall into the indentations of the clumps c are fastened. These
prevent the clumps binding against the carriage feet. e is a bar or rod passing
under the carriage, Fig. 1, attached to the inclined stays, imparting its motion to
the same, attached to a slide B, which is moved backwards and forwards by
passing through a cam (see Fig. 9) in travelling with the bed of the fountain frame.
A friction roller Z, Fig. 1, is provided to facilitate the movement of the carriage A
The carriage A in Fig. 2 is similarly moved to and fro, the rack and pawl f pre-
venting its sliding back again until released. The carriage A is prevented from
rising out of its place by projections on the feet a coming in contact with shoulders
cast on the clump c, showing as if they were dovetailed into each other in Fig. 10.
The letters are cast with a dovetailed projection on the underside, and are thereby
fastened to the carriage A, which is cast with a corresponding piece g on one
side, while on the other a plate h, Fig. 5, is fastened after the letters are placed
in position by means of pins j, which are passed down through slots k in
the carriage A, and is shown in position in the sectional view, Fig. 7. Fig. 6
is a detailed view of bar e, showing mode of fixing same to the inclined
stays b. The different lengths of carriage A are fastened together by dovetailing,
or if not dovetailed by means of a staple let into the top, the staple ends
passing down inside of feet a linking one to the other. Fig. 11 shows my improved
type foundry in which is combined the press and metal pot, utilizing the waste
heat and products of combustion from the gas light C by passing the same down
through the chamber D where they enter into and heat the press E, thereby saving
the gas formerly used to heat the press and making a more compact and useful
machine. The details of this apparatus refer to the moulds for casting the
different parts of my printing apparatus, the type side of the letters and stereo
being cast in a matrix prepared in the ordinary way. Figs. 12 and 13 show views
of the top F of the press in which are formed grooves; these are the moulds into
which the metal is run when casting the carriage A, the grooves forming the feet a.
Two bars G, Fig. 14, are placed on the top of F, one along each edge, thus giving
the required depth to carriage A, and being in the shape of an inclined plane give
the necessary taper to the edges of the carriage, as seen in the sectional view, Fig. 7.
Small pieces of vulcanized indiarubber m are inserted in the grooves, or they may
be of metal cast, connected to the inclined bar to prevent the metal flowing out at
the ends, and other pieces n to form the grooves in the feet through which the rod e
passes. The end groove is shaped so as to form the lower part of the dovetail where
the parts of the carriage are joined together. Fig. 16 shows a plate H used to cover
the grooves, two projections fitting into them in F; when they are not required to be
used it is fitted with movable bars p, so that it can be used as a tray. The grooves in
the bed K of the press are the moulds I use for casting the inclined stays a, superior
stays d, and clumps o, placing filling-in pieces or cores therein as required for the
different shapes, Fig. 18, 7 being used when casting the clumps c, the level off the
corner of which allows for the formation of the shoulder on the top edge of c and

page_text: the small bar or T shaped piece fixed at intervals in the broad side of r produces
the indentations in the side of c; 8 is the core for forming the indentation in the
bottom of the inclined stays b, and other suitable pieces are used when casting the
superior stays and for forming the hollow in the top of the inclined and superior
stays. Fig. 17 is an enlarged section showing grooves in bed K; Fig. 19 is a plate
fastened on top of the mould with holes through which screws are passed into the
various cores to retain them in place; Fig. 20 shows a core for fitting into one of
the grooves in K used to cast the part g on one side of carriage and the plate h,
Fig. 5 (that groove answering for mould for type high clumps used in stereotyping).
Fig. 21, the gauges used to cast the dovetailed projection on the underside of the
letters by which they are attached to the carriage, one side of which can be adjusted
to fit the size of letter required; Fig. 22 is my improved plane used for planing
the top edge of the dovetail on the carriage feet where tho joint is made; u is the
stock; v, the plane iron; w, the wedge; x, an inclined bracket which holds the
plane iron; it is attached to a plate y which is raised and lowered by means of
screws to adjust the cutting edge of the plane iron. The plane iron is single and
formed so as to cut both sides of the dovetail by levelling the edge down only half
the width of the iron and forming a second cutting edge by so doing. It stands out
beyond the side of the plane and acts sideways.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to
the exact details herein contained, but that what I believe to be new and desire
to protect under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
ist. The manufacture of carriages for blocks or lines of type to be raised and
depressed above and below type height by means of inclines, substantially as herein
described.
2nd. The method of printing in two or more colours by having one set of blocks
or type fixed and raising and lowering the other set above and below type height
by means of inclines, so that when above type height the movable set of type can
be inked with its colour or colours, and when below the stationary matter the latter
can be inked with a different colour or colours, substantially as herein described.
3rd. The manufacture of stereotype presses having grooves forming the moulds in
which the various parts of the printing forme are cast, combined with the cores for
altering the shape of the mould, substantially as described.
4th. The mode of fastening by dovetailing the letters of type to the carriage A,
substantially as described.
5th. The manufacture of planes for planing a dovetail groove in type or furnitures
for printing, having the plane iron placed in an inclined bracket on the top of the
stork, said bracket being attached to a plate the height of which is adjusted by
screws, substantially as herein described.
6th. The manufacture of type or stereotype in the form of plates with dovetail
beneath for mounting on carriages, substantially as herein described.
7th. The manufacture of shouldered clumps with indentations, substantially as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bland, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty first day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILLIAM BLAND. (L.S.)