CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING IN ONE, TWO, OR MORE COLOURS
Year: 1820

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Sir WILLIAM
CONGREVE, of Cecil Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Baronet,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth did,
by His Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of that part of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-second day of December, 1820, in the 'second year
of the reign, give and grant unto me, the said Sir William Congreve, my
exors, admors, and assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Sir William Congreve, my exors, admors, and
assigns, during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend; within England, Wales, "and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING
IN ONE, TWO, OR MORE COLOURS;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained
a proviso, that if I, the said William Congreve, shall not particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and
cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages
whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly cease, determine, and become void,
as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Sir William Congreve, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly
described and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
the following description thereof (that is to say)
This machine, in its simplest form for printing in one colour, consists of a
strong external fixed frame of cast iron A, B, C. D, E, F, G, Figures or
Diagrams and 2, Plate 1 having an internal moveable horizontal frame or
carriage H, I, K, of wrought iron, of which an end view is shewn in Fig. 2,
Plate 1, called the printing carriage, which slides backwards and forwards hori-
zontally in brass grooves a, a, Fig. 2, Plate 1, fixed to the inside of the pieces
A, B, E, of the fixed external frame. To this horizontal moveable frame or
carriage is attached the brass cheek pieces or standard carriages L, M, N, on
which the printing cylinders O, O, O, is mounted. The inking rollers P, P, P,
are also attached to and carried by this internal moveable frame or carriage
H, I, K, so that the whole of this internal moveable work, consisting of the
printing cylinder and the inking rollers, moves backwards and forwards
together upon this wrought iron frame or carriage. The distributing surface
over which the inking rollers pass backwards and forwards every time an im-
pression is taken, and from which they obtain their immediate supply, is
attached to the fixed frame A, B, E, and this surface receives its supply of ink
from a reservoir roller R, fixed to the external frame by means of a fourth
roller or messenger S, attached to the moveable frame or carriage, which
roller S touches the reservoir roller R when the moveable frame has reached
its extreme point, moving forwards the roller S, returning with a fresh but
very small supply of ink, which it deposits on the distributing surface Q. Q, as
the frame moves back. Now, the whole of this moveable work is set in motion
backwards and forwards at the centre T of the crank U, which crank moves
the radius X, W, to and fro through the angular space W, W, by means of the
rod V, U, the radius X, W, driving the horizontal frame or carriage, and all
the parts attached to it, backwards and forwards through a space equal to
W, W, by means of the driving rods Y, Y, connecting the radius X, W, with
the carriage H, I, K. The form or plate Z, Z, from which the impression is
to be taken, is attached to the horizontal bars A, B, E, of the external fixed
frame, so that in this construction, contrary to the ordinary principle of printing
machines, the inking rollers and printing cylinder are moveable instead of
being fixed, and the form or plate and distributing surface are fixed instead of
being moveable. The operation of printing is thus performed:-The printing
cylinder and inking rollers fixed on the moveable frame or carriage, as above

page_text: described, are moved backwards and forwards by a winch, or otherwise, at the
centre of the first motion T, so that the three inking rollers pass from the distri-
buting surface, every time an impression is to be taken, completely over the form
or plate Z, Z, and back again, and that the printing cylinder, having taken up.
the sheet of paper at a, rolls with it over the form or plate Z, Z, as the cylinder
advances, takes the impression, discharges the paper at b in retiring, and goes
back to receive another sheet, as before, at a, and so on. The paper is taken
upon the cylinder, confined to it while printed, and subsequently discharged
from it by pairs of endless tapes d, d, d, d, d, winding round rather more than
one half the cylinder from the pulley to the pulley b, and passing from the
pulley back to the pulley c again, as shewn in the Diagram, Fig. 1, Plate 1, by
the red lines d, d, d, d. Now, in order that the paper should be duly discharged
at b, it is necessary that the cylinder should always revolve in the same direc-
tion, though horizontally it moves backwards and forwards, for if the cylinder did
not continue its revolution in the same direction, the paper, after being printed
would return backwards as the cylinder retires, and interrupt the progress of
the fresh sheet coming on; but by the cylinder constantly revolving in the
same direction, the printed sheet passes off below at b, while the fresh sheet is
coming on at the top of the cylinder at a. This constant rotary motion in the
cylinder, while moving backwards and forwards, is produced by the rising and
falling racks e, e, and J. 1, which racks are thrown alternately in and out of
geers with the toothed segment g. g, g. on the side of the cylinder. The lower
rack being always in geer as the cylinder moves forwards to print, and the
upper rack being in geer when it moves backwards after having printed, hence,
therefore, whether the horizontal motion of the cylinder is forwards or back-
wards, it always revolves in the direction h, i. These racks are alternately
raised and lowered in and out of geer by being mounted on brass cranks
m, n, o, p, at their four extremities, those cranks being connected in pairs by the
rods q, r, so that both these racks rise or fall at the same instant, one into and
the other out of geer alternately; and this alternate motion in the cranks, rods,
and racks, thus connected together, is given alternately by the tappets & and s,
first by t striking the crank m forwards when the cylinder has reached its
extreme point in front, throwing down the racks by the blow, so that the
lower rack e, e, falls out of geer as the upper one f, f, falls in, and vice versa;
the rack e, e, being raised again into and f, f, out of geer by the tappet s
striking the crank n, when the cylinder has reached the extreme point of its
horizontal motion backwards. The paper is laid on by means of a noveable
carriage, called the paper carriage, consisting of a frame u, u, having a large
and small roller 6, 6, and, working at each end of the carriage, with an

page_text: endless band or cloth round them, shewn by a red line y, y. This band or
cloth is carried round these two rollers and back again by the rotary motion of
the large roller w, and the motion is given to that roller by a wheel" attached
to it, which works, either by simple friction or by teeth, against either a 'plain
rail or a rack Z', Z, so that as the whole of the carriages moves backwards and
forwards, which it is constructed to do, in grooves on the upper bar c, d, of
the fixed external frame, the band is made to run, either one way or the other,
by the revolution of the wheel w, this way or that, as the paper carriage moves
forwards or backwards. This motion of the band is adjusted by construction,
so that it is equal to the rotary motion of the printing cylinder, and the
carriage, being constructed as above, is driven backwards from Z¹ to Z by the
carriage of the printing cylinder coming in contact with it in its return to
receive the fresh sheet, the whole of this carriage being drawn forwards again
by the suspending weight No. 1.
Having, therefore, thus described the different parts and actions of this
laying-on or paper carriage and its band, the operation of laying the paper
on the band or cloth, so that the tapes on the printing cylinder shall take it
from that band and transfer it to the printing cylinder, will be easily under-
stood. The paper is laid upon the band at y, a, the edge of the paper
coming to the front edge of the band a, where that band turns round
the smaller roller. In this situation the paper is found on the band or
cloth when the cylinder returns for a fresh sheet, and the underneath side of
the tapes running round the pulley c, thus coming in contact with the upper
surface of the paper. These tapes, partaking of the rotary motion of the
cylinder, draw the paper off the laying-on band on which it was first laid, and
transfer it to the printing cylinder, while the laying-on carriage is pushed back by
the cheek pieces L, M, N, of the cylinder, and the band y, y, being, as above
described, in motion equal to that of the cylinder, and in the same direction, that
motion of the band assists the tapes in transferring the paper from itself to the
cylinder, and prevents its being either torn or puckered. The carriage having
thus parted with the paper in its recoil, returns as far as 21 with the cylinder,
where it receives a fresh sheet from the hands of the person employed to lay
on, while the cylinder is proceeding forward to print the sheet it has just taken
up. That part of the cylinder under the paper where the impression is to be
received is raised above the rest of the surface of the cylinder by a blanket,
covered either with leather or parchment, which may be termed the tympan
sheet, so that this raised part only touches the plate in printing, while the
remainder of the cylinder rolls over it without touching in retiring, followed
by the inking rollers, as above described, to charge the plate with fresh ink

page_text: after every impression. It remains only to state, that the sheet, after being
printed, is discharged from the cylinder at the discharging pulley b, where the
tapes quit the cylinder and return, after making an angle to clear the cylinder,
back to the pullies c. The sheet thus discharged is received from the cylinder
on the long endless band or cloth No. 2 and 3, mounted on and moving back-
wards and forwards with the main printing frame or carriage. This band runs
round from 2 to 3, having in addition to the general motion of the frame or
carriage on which it is mounted a motion of its own received from the roller
or pulley, which motion being given by the tapes of the printing cylinder must
be equal to the motion of that cylinder, so that this band takes off the
discharged sheet without puckering as fast as the tapes and cylinder part with
it, and finally carries and drops it beyond the limits of the machine on to a
table placed to receive it, and thus the operations of this machine in its
simplest form, viz, the printing in one colour for any general purpose,
are so far completed; comprehending, therefore, thus far the mode of laying
on the paper, inking the rollers from the distributing surface, and inking
the plates from the rollers, also the subsequent printing and throwing off
the paper where one colour only is used; it will be now easy to understand
the operation of printing in two or more colours at a single impression by a
similar machine. For this purpose the plates must be constructed on a prin-
ciple entirely different from that of any other plates, which principle forms a
part of this system; the plate is, in fact, a combination of two or more plates,
according to the number of colours to be printed. In the description, however,
to which I shall now proceed, suppose two colours and two plates only. In the.
combination of these plates, certain raised parts of the lower plate come up
through corresponding apertures in the upper plate, so as to form one printing
surface of the two plates; the interstices in the upper plate being formed in
any desired pattern of filagree work, as it may be termed, and the relief parts
of the lower plate being fitted exactly into those apertures, either by casting
one metal plate into another, the metal of the lower plate being in that case
softer and easier fused than. that.of the upper plate, or they may be fitted of
two metal plates of equal hardness, either by hand or by casting each part in
separate moulds duly adjusted.
Persuing, therefore, the operation of printing in two colours, it must be
understood that these double plates are separated to be coloured with the
different colours, and united to print these different colours at one impression.
To effect this, it is evident that, in addition to all that has been already
described, the machine must be furnished with two setts of inking rollers, reser-
voirs, and distributing surfaces, and that it must also have the means of sepa-

page_text: rating and closing these plates at the proper times for the different operations
of inking and printing. Now, the first of these necessities is provided for by
the second tier of inking rollers, expressed by dotted lines No. 4, 5, 6, attached
to the moveable carriage, exactly on the same principle as those already
described; and this second sett of rollers must, like the first sett, pass over a
second distributing surface No. 7, fixed like the first surface to the main frame
of the machine. The separation and closing of the plates is performed by the
excentric wheel, expressed also by dotted lines No. 8, 9, 10, 11, working on the
same centre as that of the crank above described, which sets the moveable frame
or printing carriage in. motion. This excentric is grooved all round its peri-
phery, and in this groove works a roller 12 on the end of the rod 12, 13, that
rod being steadied and confined to its due action by the radius 12, 14, con-
nected with a standard or arm 15, 16, 17, having a knuckle joint in it 16,
the top of which standard is connected with the table 17, on which the lower
plate 18, 18, is fixed, so that when the joint of the standard or arm is bent
into the position 15, 16, 17, the lower plate 18, 18, is drawn down from the
upper one z, z, moving in its descent very accurately and steadily in vertical
bird's-mouth grooves in two uprights of the fixed external frame of the machine
19, 20, and again, so that when the joint is shut the lower plate is again thrown
into the upper one, whereby the upper surface of the projecting parts of the
lower plate are again made to coincide with the upper surface of the upper
plate. Things, therefore, being thus constructed, it follows, that while the roller
of the rod 12, 13, is working in the groove of the larger circle from 8 to 9, the
joint of the standard will be thrown back, and the plates remain separated
for inking by their respective rollers passing over them; but that as the
roller 12 passes from the larger to the smaller circle of the excentric, that is,
from 9 to 10, the joint will be straightened, and the plates closed, and that they
will remain closed for printing while the roller of the rod works in the groove
of the smaller circle from 10 to 11, that they will again open when that roller
passes again to the larger circle from 11 to 8. These portions of circles must,
therefore, be calculated and placed on the periphery of the excentric, so that
the inking rollers shall pass backwards and forwards over their respective
plates while the end of the rod works in the larger circle from 8 to 9, and so
also that the cushion and sheet on the printing cylinder shall roll over the
plates while the end of the rod is working in the smaller circle from 10 to 11,
(that is to say,) while the plates are closed for printing, after having each of
them been inked by their respective rollers. In every other respect the opera-
tion of printing in two colours is exactly the same as that first described of
printing in one.

page_text: From the foregoing description also, it will be evident that where three or
more colours are used the same process will apply, merely by having an addi-
tional tier or tiers of inking rollers, distributing surfaces, and plates; the raised
parts of the lower plate intended to permit the third, fourth, or other last colour
passing as before through interstices in the different plates above it; all these
plates being connected to the table 17 by jointed braces, similar to those of a
compound parallel ruler, so that all the plates may be duly opened to receive
their different coloured inks as the table descends by the bending of the joint
of the standard, and that they may be closed by its straightening again; to
effect which it only requires a greater quantity of action in the table falling or
rising. It is here necessary to state, that where two or more colours are used.
the upper plate Z, Z, cannot be attached by simple cross bars to the external
fixed frame, as where only one colour is required for common printing, as
those cross bars would be in the way of the necessary connection of the printing
rollers with the moveable or printing carriage, and prevent the due quantity of
horizontal motion in this carriage from one end to the other; the upper plate
Z, Z, must, therefore, in all cases where more than one plate are used, be sup-
ported on the longitudinal horizontal bars 21, 22, very faintly shaded in the
Diagram Plate 1, which longitudinal bars must be of sufficient length to allow
all the connecting parts to move clear from one end to the other; the printing
end must be attached to the outer frame at their extremities by the cross
bars 23, 24, on one of which cross bars 23 the reservoir roller R, with its
doctor plate, may be very conveniently placed. These longitudinal bars also
answer another good purpose where more than one plate is used, inasmuch as
being elastic from their length, they give a little to the pressure of the printing
cylinder rolling over the upper plate, and thereby allow the upper plate to be
pressed close down to the lower plates, which are firmly supported by the stand-
ard then in its vertical position under the table 17. This same elasticity also,
by yielding a little, protects the edges of the projecting parts of the lower plate
or plates when they are thrown up into the apertures in the upper plate by the
Straightening of the standard 15, 16, 17.
Plate 2 is a finished Drawing of every part of this machine for printing in
two colours as now actually in use at Somerset House for the new coloured
stamps of the country bank notes; this plate consists of an elevation, Fig. 1
an end view, Fig 2; and a plan, Fig. 3. It is not, however, necessary, after
the very detailed description given of the Diagram Plate 1, to go through all
the parts of this Drawing Plate 2, which will be sufficiently intelligible by
inspection to those who have examined the Diagrams, some variations and
additions in the final construction must, however, be noticed; thus, the first

page_text: motion is given by a winch on the axis of the fly wheel a, a, a, which commu-
nicate's with the crank and excentric by means of a band B, and two riggers C, C,
and D, D, Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
The next important variation to be noticed is, that instead of one distributing
surface as supposed in the Diagram, this part of the machine consists, for the
better distribution of the ink, on which all fine printing must depend, of two
circular horizontal surfaces or plates E, E, Figs. 1 and 3, which plates are
made to revolve every time the inking rollers pass over them through a very
small arc in contrary directions, by the motion of an endless line or catgut
band, coloured red, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, &c., running over the pulley G, which is
loose, round grooves in the upper set of circular plates, and from thence back
to the pulley F, fixed on its axis, from thence down to the second set of circular
plates H, H, I, I, round the grooves in their outer edges, and up again to the
pulley G; this line or catgut band, having a small collateral pulley J, seen.
only in the plan, Fig. 3, to tighten it. The pulley F, which gives motion to this
line or catgut band, receives its small intermitting angular motion at intervals
by means of the ratchet wheel 22, divided into 19 teeth, which ratchet wheel
is moved one tooth every time the printing carriage advances and one tooth
every time it recedes by means of a hook K, which catches in these teeth by
the rising and falling of the rod L, one extremity of which works in a small
excentric M, M, turning on the axis as the large excentric, see Fig. 1, Plate 2.
By this arrangement, therefore, a small angular motion takes place every time
the inking rollers pass either way over these surfaces, by which means the
most perfect and uniform distribution of the ink on the rollers is secured
without any fear of an irregular or streaky accumulation in any part. The
reservoir roller also moves through a small arc every time the surfaces move,
so as to bring fresh ink in contact with the messenger roller; and this motion
is given by means of a line over the pullies 20 on the spindle of the reservoir
roller, and 21 on the axis of the ratchet wheel. There remains to be described
the counterpoise weights N, N, Figs. 1, 2, 3, for the table and lower plates,
which, being suspended by lines over the pullies O, O, work in brass boxes,
and cause the table, which is of considerable weight, to be raised and to descend
easily and uniformly to facilitate and equalize the motion of the rising and
falling racks which turn the printing cylinder; those racks are also counter-
poised by a weight working in a brass box P, Figs. 1 and 3. To carry the
printed sheet more rapidly out of the machine, an additional endless band Q, Q,
is used, on which the paper is discharged from the first discharging band R, R,
the lower band Q, Q, being mounted on the fixed frame of the machine, and
not moving backwards and forwards with the printing carriage as the upper

page_text: band R does, which is attended with some inconvenience from not always
discharging the sheet in the same place. There remains now only to describe
the small fan roller S, which revolves constantly in a contrary direction to the
printing cylinder, the surface of which it brushes so as to ensure the discharge
of the paper after printing on the band R, R. There are, of course, certain
parts of the machinery here described which are necessarily common to other
printing machines, such as the tapes, inking rollers, reservoir cylinders, and
doctor plates, which it is not the intention of this Patent to describe as new;
I claim, however, under this Patent as a novelty the mode of taking on the
paper by the moveable paper carriage above described, and of carrying it for-
ward to be printed and afterwards discharged by the combined horizontal and
rotary motion of the printing cylinder, as effected by the horizontal frame
or carriage, and by the rising and falling racks above described, whether in
printing with one or more colours.
I claim, also, the mode of printing in two or more colours at one im-
pression by the compound plates, above described as fitting into each other, so
as to bring certain parts of each plate to form one printing surface, whether
those plates be formed by casting metals of different degrees of fusibility into
one another, or be fitted by hand, or be cast of the same metal by moulds duly
adjusted, or whether they be partly wrought by hand and partly cast; whether
they be of steel, iron, brass, stereotype, or any other metal or mixture of
metals, or be of wood, ivory, or any other substance whatever, in whatever
way made, fitted, and combined for the purposes above specified. I claim,
also, the mode of inking the same separately with different colours, and of
uniting them to print these different colours at one impression with the appa-
ratus herein specified. And I further claim as new the equal distribution of
the ink by means of surfaces revolving on axes at right angles to the plane in
which the inking rollers move, whether those surfaces are in continual rotary
motion or whether they revolve and rest at intervals; and also whether the
machine be furnished with one or more such surfaces.
And, lastly, I claim a variation of this machine, as shewn by Plate 3, which
may be called my double printing press, as it prints from the same form or
plate with the back motion of the printing carriage as well as with its forward
motion, and therefore does double the work in the same time. In this
machine there are two printing cylinders A and B, a, b, Fig. 3, similar to
those above described, moving on one main carriage, but having two laying-on
carriages, one to each cylinder, at the opposite ends of the machine; and two
setts of rising and falling racks, one to each cylinder; having also two setts of
the discharging bands, one at each end of the machine, with two revolving

page_text: inking surfaces C, C, D, D, one sett of inking rollers E, F, G, e, f, g, two
messenger rollers H, I, h, i, two reservoir rollers J, K, and one plate or form
L, M. Now, the main carriage 'moves through a horizontal space equal to
A, a, or I, i, so that each of the messenger rollers touches its respective
reservoir roller each way. In moving backwards and forwards, therefore, each
cylinder moves every time completely across the plate or form, and the inking
rollers are fed alternately from each distributing surface, but pass both ways
over the form or plate, which is therefore prepared to print the paper alternately
brought by both the printing cylinders A and B. Two men are required to
lay on, one for each cylinder, so that the utmost is made of the power and
time employed, as two impressions are taken from the same form or plate at
every revolution of the crank which gives the first motion, whereas in the
machine above described only one impression is taken by the same action.
This double press is supposed to be principally applied to the printing in one
colour for general purposes, though it is evident that by making the excentric
above described revolve twice while the crank revolves only once, the operation
may be equally applied to printing in different colours. By a similar arrange-
ment to that in Plate 3, if we suppose the space L, M, equal to the reception
of two plates or forms, it is evident that a different form might be printed by
each cylinder; that is, supposing, M, and , L, to be different forms or plates,
then might the cylinder A be made to print from the form xz, L, only, and the
cylinder B only from the form 2, M;, and, by due increase of action, these
forms might, of course, be of any size.
Another variation of this principle of printing press, where the forms or plates
are at rest and the printing cylinder in motion, is equally practicable by the
arrangement of two printing cylinders for turning paper from one cylinder to
the other, so as to print on both sides. In this case the two forms must be at
the extremities of the machine, and the two printing cylinders in the centre
of it.
To conclude, the advantages of this system of printing machines, when
applied to common printing in one colour, is, that by having the form sta-
tionary and the printing cylinders in motion, those parts of the machine which
are necessarily the heaviest are at rest, and those parts which are capable of
being made the lightest are the parts moved, by which, it is evident, not only
that power is saved, and consequently increased rapidity obtained, but that the
jar and wear and tear of the machine is much reduced. There is no doubt but
that by the double machine described in Plate 3, 40 impressions might be taken
in a minute without injury to the machine from its speed. When, also, this
system of printing is applied to two colours, not only does this same advantage

page_text: exist, but, by the apparatus here described, the most perfect and beautiful
description of the register of colour ever devised is attainable.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Congreve, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of
in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-one.
7
WILLIAM (L.S.) CONGREVE.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-second day of June, in
the year of our Lord 1821, the aforesaid William Congreve came before our
said Lord the King, in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to
the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-second day of June, in the year of our Lord One