AN IMPROVED POWER PRINTING PRESS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jedediah Morse, of the State of Massachusetts,
of the United States of America, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
POWER PRINTING PRESS."
Scaled the 17th June 1859, and dated the 3rd May 1859.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Jedediah Morse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 3rd May 1859, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT
KNOWN, that I, JEDEDIAN MORSE, of the State of Massachusetts, of the
United States of America, have invented "AN IMPROVED POWER PRINTING
PRESS," and I do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, or in other words, its
construction and mode of operation, are fully described and represented in the
following Specification, and the accompanying Drawings, of which Figure 1 is
a top view of the said press; Figure 2, a front side elevation of it, or an
clevation of that side on which the fly wheel is situated; Figure 3 is an
elevation of its opposite side; Figure 4, a vertical and transverse section, such
being taken through the platen and bed; Figure 5 is a longitudinal, central,
and vertical section. Figure 6 is an elevation of that end at which the pile
platform is situated, such being termed the rear end; Figure 7, 'a front end
elevation.

page_text: Such other Figures as may be necessary to a correct delineation of my
improvements will be herein-after described.
The nature of my Invention or improvements may be considered to consist
in the following, that is to say :-
In a peculiar construction of the platen rails, or those on which the
platen is supported while being moved from over the movable bed, the same
consisting in constructing each of said rails with an inclined chute or rise, and
a depression, the purpose of the chute being not only to steer the platen clear
of the sheet discharging rollers, but to form a rest for the lower or moveable
portion of the inclined feeding table, the depressions of the rails being to
receive the rearmost wheels of the platen, so as to hold the platen back or
away from over the bed.
Also, in an arrangement and combination of a slider with the operating cam
of and the pin or stud projecting from one of the rocker toggles of the bed,
the purpose of such slider being to prevent an impression being given by
the bed.
Also, in the peculiar device or mechanism for gradually moving forward, or
to place the rocker toggles during falling of the bed.
Also, in a combination of wheels, lever nippers, and devices for operating
or opening and closing the said nippers, the same being for receiving a printed
sheet of paper from the carrying tapes, reversing it, and so delivering it upon
the pile table, that the imprinted face of the said sheet shall be upward, in
order that the imprint thereof may be easily examined.
Also, in a mode of constructing the nippers for receiving the sheet of paper,
and drawing it over the form of type.
Also, in constructing the lower nipper with a raised lip on its front edge, the
same being for elevating or bringing the paper up to the level of the type
printing surface, so as to enable the printing to be done close up to the
nippers.
Also, in a mode of applying and operating each of the sheet points.
Also, in a mode of operating the frisket carrier or carriage.
In the Drawings above mentioned, A exhibits the press frame; B, the
platen; C, the movable bed; D, the frisket carriage; E, the pile platform;
H, H, the arch rods, and I, the arch bar which supports the platen; K is the
driving shaft; and L, the main cam shaft, the two being geared together by
gears M and N, as shown in Figure 5. The said driving shaft carries a fly-
wheel O, and a spur gear P, which is shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, such
driving shaft, when the machine is in operation, being rotated by power
applied to it in any proper manner. The frisket carriage D is a rectangular

page_text: frame, which is hinged to the inking roller frame F at one side of it, while its
other side is supported by two arms a, a, extending upward from a rocker
shaft b, arranged as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5. When this latter shaft is
turned or partially revolved in its bearings, the frisket carriage will be caused
to pass downward in an inclined direction underneath the carrying rollers of
the endless tapes, by which a sheet of paper after having been printed is
removed from the frisket, the lowermost pair of such carrying rollers and their
capes being shown at c, c, and d, in Figure 5. The remainder of them are
omitted, as they are such as are in common use in other presses. In such
Figure (5) the frisket carriage when underneath the carrying rollers is
represented.
The inking roller carriage or frame F should be supported within or by the
frame A, so as to be capable of moving horizontally therein or in a plane
parallel to that of the upper surface of the platen. G exhibits the inclined
sheet receiving table, which is arranged on the top of the frame A, and with
respect to the bed and platen, as shown in the Drawings. It is formed in two
halves or parts e, f, which are connected together by hinges g, 9, so that the
inner part f may be turned or folded over upon the outer part e, such being
for the purpose of enabling the platen B to be moved from over the bed, or
into position as shown in Figure 8, which also exhibits the lower half or
portion f of the table G as turned backward. The said platen is sustained by
four wheels h, h, i, i, two of which, viz., i, i, are furnished with radial points
or teeth extending at equal distances apart from and around their peripheries
as shown in the Drawings. The supporting wheels of the platen rest and run
on rails a³, a³, each of which where it extends over the bed is horizontal or
has its top surface parallel with that of the bed, but between the bed and the
rear part c of the table G, each rail a³ is constructed with a rise or chute k,
and a depression or notch 1, arranged as shown in Figure 2. Furthermore,
the top surface of each rail a³ is constructed with a series of holes or cavities
m, m, m, arranged at equal distances asunder, and for reception of the teeth
of the wheels i, i. The object of the said cavities and teeth are to maintain
the platen parallel to the vertical plane of its arch rods H, H, while being
moved away from the same. Furthermore, each rail a³ is provided with a
rise or chute k, for the purpose of enabling the platen to run clear of the sheet
carrying rollers, while the said platen is being moved away from the bed.
The notches or depressions serve to receive the rearmost wheels i, i, and
thereby prevent the platen from being moved forward or toward the bed by
the action of gravity.
The movable bed C is operated by means of pendulous, toggles S,-S, and

page_text: cams, r, Figure 9 representing a section taken through the bed, one of the
toggles, and its cam, the said cams being carried by the shaft L; such Figure
also exhibits the slider R, and the mechanism for operating it, the slider also
being shown in Figure 7. By means of the foot treadle lever n, arranged as
shown in the Drawings, the slider may be moved inward toward the adjacent
toggles S, from the side of which a pin or stud o projects. The slider R turns
on a surpporting rod or fulcrum p, so that when moved toward and upon the
cam, it (the slider) may be elevated by such cam. The slider and the pin o
serve to stop the toggles and hold them out of action of the cams r, r, when it
may be desirable to throw off the impression or in other words to prevent the
bed with the form of type from being raised upward. A spring q, shown in
'dotted lines in Figure 7, serves to move the slider R away from the toggles
whenever the treadle lever n is relieved from the pressure of the pressman's
.foot. As the toggles, immediately after an impression has been given by
them are sometimes liable not to be properly. carried forward toward the
front end of the machine, there is applied to them a mechanism for bringing
them forward gradually as well as for inswing their return to the proper
positions for their cams to act upon them. To this end the front toggles is
printed with a stud t, (see Figures 4 and 7), which is to operate in connection
with a notched wheel u, arranged as shown in Figures 4 and 7, and formed
as exhibited in side view in Figure 10. This notched wheel is affixed to the
side of or makes part of a geer v, which is arranged as shown in the said
Figures 4 and 7, and engages with a gear w, carried by the shaft L. The
notch a of the wheel u during rotation of the wheel, and while the toggles are
moving forward, receives the stud t, and by its action not only ensures the
return of the toggles, but brings them gradually into the right place for being
acted upon by their cams.
The next part of my Invention relates to the mechanism for operating the
frisket carriage. A connecting bar or rod y is jointed to one of the arms a,
and also to a bell-crank z, fixed on a shaft T, arranged as shown in the
Drawings. This shaft T carries a peculiar formed gear or pinion a', which is
to operate in connection with another peculiar gear ', fixed upon the main
cam shaft L, see Figure 5, the forms of such gears being exhibited in the said
Figure. These gears a', b', not only impart to the frisket carriage its back
and forth movements, but also intervals of rest, as it is necessary that the
frisket carriage should be stationary while a sheet of paper is being printed,
as well as while the process of supplying a sheet to the frisket is being carried
Each gear a' and b' is constructed with two arcs of teeth c', c¹, and d¹, d',
and the large geer has plane convex arcs e', e¹, to operate in connection with
on,

page_text: reversed or concave arcs f', f, of the pinion a', the whole being formed and
arranged as shown in the Drawings. While a convex arc e¹ and a concave
arc fare in contact, the pinion b¹ will have no motion, although the arc
el
may move within the arc f¹, but as soon as a toothed arc of the gear b¹
encounters a toothed arc of the pinion a', it will set the pinion in motion, so
as to rotate its shaft, and produce a movement of the frisket carriage. The
intermittent motions of the frisket carriage are thus secured by the conjoint
action of the said pinion and gear so constructed.
The next part of the press to be described, is the mechanism for removing
the sheet of paper from the table G to and over the bed or form. This
mechanism consists mainly in nippers applied to the frisket D, they being
exhibited at V, V, in Figure 1.
Figure 11 exhibits a vertical section, and Figure 12 a rear elevation of the
frisket and its nipper apparatus, the nippers being represented therein as open.
Each of them consists of two jaws f, g, hinged together, as shown at h'. The
upper jaw f* of each pair of nippers is fastened to a shaft 2, whose journals are
supported in projections or bearings k¹, k, extending up from the frisket D.
Each jaw g rests on a rod , which extends from one to the other of two
levers or lifters m³, m³, which rest on the inking roller frame F, and serve to
support the lower jaw g' level, particularly while it is approaching toward the
sheet table G. The said lower jaw g' is furnished with a small bend or pro-
jecting lip n', the same being made to extend upward in front of the adjacent
or outer edge of the upper jaw f. The purpose of this lip has been herein-
before mentioned. A spring o¹ arranged at the back of the frisket, as seen in
Figure 12, presses against arms p¹, p¹, hinged to and extending downward from
one side of the shaft i, as shown in the Drawings, such spring serving to close
the nippers. On the shaft ¹ being turned in its bearings, so as to elevate the
upper jaws of the nippers, the lower jaws of the said nippers by being supported
upon the rod, will at the same time be depressed or tipped downward. Thus
while the nipper jaws are being opened, each will move away from the other.
The opening of the nippers is effected at the proper time by the pressure of a
bent arm, upon a stud or projection s extended from the shaft i, the said
bent arm extends from a lever s', whose fulcrum is shown at t, see Figures
1 and 2. Directly underneath the said lever is a bevel gear u³, which carries
in rear of its range of teeth two cams v', w', one of which is shown by a red
line while the other is exhibited by a blue line in Figure 2. The outer end of
the lever s¹ rests on the cam v³, while that of another lever a¹, carrying a stud y
rests on the cam w¹. A shaft 2¹ extends along the side of the machine, as
shown in Figures 1 and 2, and carries four bevel pinions a², b, c, and d².

page_text: Motion is imparted to the said shaft z¹ from the driving shaft K, whose spur
gear P engages with another small gear f carrying a bevel gear g, which in its
turn engages with a pinion c. Furthermore the bevel gear u' engages with and
is rotated by the pinion c². That bevel pinion which is at one extremity of
the shaft serves to impart motion to a bevel gear h², which may be supposed
to operate the main shaft of the ink cylinder. The lever a', and its stud y',
actuate a bent lever applied to the under side of the part f of the table G.
The lesser or inner arm of said lever 2 presses against a lever k², arranged as
shown in Figure 5, and also in Figure 13, which exhibits a section of the said
lever and the pointing apparatus connected with it and applied to the part f of
the table G. The point or pin for pointing a sheet of paper preparatory to its
being printed, and while it is being laid on the table G, is shown at lin
Figures 1, 5, and 13. It extends from a foot cam m² constructed and
arranged with respect to it, and the lever k², as shown in the Drawings. A
spring n² serves to press the lever against the cam, such cam being provided
with a locking notch or recess o² formed in its heel, and for the reception of
the adjacent arm of the lever . This locking recess serves to enable the said
lever to maintain the point in an upright position while the sheet of paper is
being pointed. After the pointing of the sheet has taken place, and the
nippers have seized the sheet, the lever by the action of the bent lever i will
be moved away from the point, so as to allow the said point to be drawn down-
'ward into an inclined position by the sheet of paper, while the said sheet is
being drawn by the nippers away from the table G. By such means the sheet
will be drawn off the point, and subsquently it will be elevated into an upright
position by the action of its lever k² against the cam m³, such lever being
actuated by its spring n². If more than one point is to be used, each additional
one should have similar appliances.
The next part of the mechanism to be described is that for receiving the
sheet of paper from the carrying tapes, reversing it, and placing it on the
pile platform E, or a pile of paper thereon. At the rear end of the machine
there is a shaft p² (see Figure 6), which carries two or any other suitable
number of wheels, 2, see Figures 5 and 6, and is revolved by a bevil
gear S that engages with the pinion a², herein-before described. Each of the
wheels at its circumference carries a nipper lever t, which plays on a
fulcrum u², and is formed with a projection v2 extending below the fulcrum, and
affixed to a zig-zag or other proper spring w², carried by the wheel, and arranged
as shown in Figure 5. The said nipper levers t2 while the wheels are being
revolved are moved successively against, and by two stationary bars a², y³,
arranged as shown in the Drawings. As the sheet of paper is being delivered

page_text: I do not claim the subject of the United States Patent, No. 7205, but I
claim the combination of two or any other suitable number of wheels r,,
lever nippers (applied respectively to them), and their opening and closing
bars x, y, or mechanical equivalents for such bars, the same being sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
I also claim the above specified mode of constructing each of the nippers
V, V, for receiving the sheet of paper from the table G, viz., so that each jaw
may move away from the other, while the upper is being raised, the same
producing the advantages not only of ensuring the passage of the lower jaw
underneath the sheet of paper simultaneously with that of the other jaw over
it, but of both jaws closing upon the paper at one and the same time, so as
not to lift it out of place.
I also claim the mode of constructing the lower jaw g of each pair of
nippers V, viz., with a lip or bend n' arranged thereon, and for the purpose
described.
I also claim the mode of applying and operating each of the points viz.,
hinging or jointing it to the table G, and combining with it a stop m² and
lever, or the equivalents therefor, the whole operating or being made to
operate substantially as described.
I also claim the improved method of operating the frisket carrier, the same
consisting in causing it to descend and pass in an inclined position under the
delivering tapes and rollers, while the nippers V, V, may be approaching the
sheet table G, the same enabling the press to be made lower and shorter than
when the frisket carriage is moved horizontally under the said delivering tapes
or rollers.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature and seal, this
18th of April 1859.
JEDEDIAH MORSE. (L.S.)

page_text: from the carrying tapes it will be received upon the peripheries of the wheels
,, and underneath the jaws 2,2, of the nippers. Now, while the said jaws
are being moved forward with the sheet they will be carried in contact with
the bar x, and by it will be closed down upon the sheet. In this manner
the sheet of paper becomes connected to the wheels, which as they continue
to revolve will carry it along with them, and it will be turned over so as to
bring its printed side uppermost. The sheet, while being held by the wheels,
will fall upon the pile table or the pile of paper thereon, and be discharged
from the wheels, the said discharge of the sheet taking place by reason of the
tails or longer arms of the nipper levers being borne against the bar y as they
pass by the same. The nipper may be continuous, stretching across, being
fixed to arms on the end of the nipper shaft; or there may be separate nippers
attached to arms movable on the nipper shaft, or on movable wheels, as above
described. With nipper stretching entirely across the sheet it may be received
on an inclined plane, and the nipper be attached at both ends to an endless
band, and the sheet drawn down the inclined plane under the end of the same,
and delivered printed side up on the table. For the purpose of supporting the
sheet of paper over the frisket or the carriage thereof, and guiding and pre-
senting it to the discharging apparatus or the wheels 1, 2, and their nippers t
there may be used an apparratus substantially such as is claimed in the first
section of claims of the United States Patent, numbered 17,543, and described
and illustrated in the Specification of such Patent.
Having thus described my improved power printing press, what I claim as
new therein, and as my Invention, is as follows:-
I claim the improvement in the construction of each of the platen rails a³, a³,
the same consisting in the chute k, and a notch or depression 1 arranged
therein, and with reference to the rollers or tapes, substantially in manner and
for the purpose as herein-before specified.
I also claim the arrangement and combination of the slider R with the
operating cam, and the pin or stud O on the rocker toggles, such slider being
actuated by a foot treadle n, a spring q, and the cam r of the toggles, sub-
stantially as described.
.
I also claim the mode of ensuring the return movement of the toggles, and
their gradual forward motion after each impression has taken place, the same
being accomplished by the notched wheel u, or its notch x, as described.
I also claim the mode of constructing the gears a' and ' for operating the
frisket carrier, viz., with the toothed ares c', c, d, d', and the concave and
convex arcs e¹, e¹, and f¹, f, unprovided with teeth, the whole being arranged
so as to operate together, substantially as specified.