IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR PRESSES FOR CHROMATIC PRINTING.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR PRESSES FOR CHROMATIC PRINTING.". A
communication from abroad by Peter Henry White, Ermina Piper de
Normandie, and George Monroe Wright, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
United States of America
Sealed the 20th June 1879, and dated the 24th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th December 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR PRESSES FOR
CHROMATIC PRINTING." [A communication from abroad by Peter Henry White,
Ermina Piper de Normandie, and George Monroe Wright, all of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in chromatic printing machines or presses
in which the paper is fed to the press at a right angle to the line of motion of the
inking rollers, whereby there is a simplification of the mechanism of the press, and
but one roller is required for spreading the different colors on the form.
The said Invention also comprises the arranging of the feeding mechanism
opposite to the place of entrance of the paper, which, being supplied in lengths, is
drawn through the press in contradistinction to being pushed, and is thus prevented
from gathering or wrinkling.
It also comprises a form set up or constructed in divisions equal to the number
of colors to be printed, and feeding paper thereto by an intermittent motion,
whereby the several colors are applied successively by a single inking roller.
It further comprises forming the distributing or inking rollers of separated
sections, whereby the different colored inks are kept distinct and prevented from
improper union.

page_text: It further comprises a vertically operated plate provided with a platen or
impression-plate and operating with the type form suspended from the top plate of
the press.
It also comprises the imparting of vibratory or sliding motions to the distributing
rollers by means of cams on the inking cylinder.
It also comprises a type inking roller in combination with mechanism operated
from a movable bed-plate for causing the said roller to pass under the inking
cylinder and form for properly spreading the ink.
It also comprises rods in combination with springs for preventing the falling of
the roller in the event of the breakage of the springs until the pressman has noticed
the break and new springs are supplied.
It also comprises mechanism for simultaneously feeding a plurality of strips.
It further comprises a bed-plate provided with mechanism for gumming or
pasting the under side of the paper.
It constructing a machine according to this Invention a frame is provided; to
the under side of the top plate the form is suspended, for which purpose rabbeted
strips are employed. The platen or impression-plate is fitted in a movable bed
upon which the paper to be printed is laid and carried forward during the printing
operation, guide strips being employed and rendered adjustable by means of slots
and screws for different widths of paper. The bed-plate is provided with screws
for adjusting the height of the platen. There is a shaft which is driven from the
power-shaft and carries crank-arms to which are connected rods whose upper ends
are properly secured to the said bed-plate, whereby vertical motions are imparted
to the said bed-plate. Rods are connected at their lower ends to the aforesaid
frame and upper ends to the top plate, and they form guides for the bed-plate.
Distributing rollers and an inking cylinder are mounted on supports secured to the
said frame and top plate; and there is an inking roller which is advanced and
returned in order to be brought into connection with the aforesaid inking cylinder
and the type form by the vertical movements of the said bed-plate through the
medium of the connecting rods, horizontal levers, other levers, and a rock-shaft.
The inking roller is held up against the form as it passes under the same by means
of rods and springs connected to the rear ends of the said horizontal levers and
arms of the other levers.. Should the springs break the rods just mentioned prevent
the roller from falling until the pressman notices the break and new springs are
supplied, said rods serving to support the springs at all times. The aforesaid inking
cylinder is revolved by means of a belt which passes around a pulley on one end of
the shaft of said cylinder and a pulley on the driving shaft. The ends or heads of
the cylinder are provided with cams, and they act against annular guides on the
distributing rollers, whereby as said rollers rotate they receive sliding motions in
the line of their axes so as to cause a more perfect distribution of the ink. The
said distributing rollers are divided into sections, and each rotates in an ink-trough
of its own color, whereby the different colored inks are kept distinct, and improper
union of the inks is prevented.
If desired, the inking cylinder and roller may also be formed in sections similar
to the distributing rollers. There will be as many sections in the rollers as there
are colors to be printed.
There are two shafts geared together by means of wheels which are provided
with feed-rollers. The rollers are adjustable on their shafts for the purpose of
being so arranged, when desired, as to feed a plurality of strips of paper at one
operation to receive differently from each other the colors from the inking roller.
An intermittent motion is given to the rollers so as to keep the paper stationary
when the impression is being given, and move it forward during the intervals by
the vertical movements of the said bed plate, there being on one end of the lower
feed wheel shaft a disc provided with a spring detent which engages with a ratchet-
wheel and prevents its turning on the shaft in the downward movement of the bed-
plate. A. pinion is fixed to the ratchet wheel, and in connection with the pinion
there is a toothed segment which turns partially on a permanent arm that projects

page_text: from the bed-plate. An arm is connected to the segment and jointed to a vertical
rod whose lower end is jointed to a bracket attached to the frame, so that as the
bed-plate is descending the inner end of said arm is turned upward, giving a partial
turn to the segment, which, by turning the said pinion, gives motion to the feed-
rollers to feed the paper forward in the downward movement of the bed-plate. The
said spring detent does not operate in the upward movement of the bed-plate, and the
pinion consequently turns loose on the shaft, thus preventing the movement of the
rollers during the impression. The said arm is provided with a series of openings
for the adjustment of the said vertical rod to vary the length of feed of the paper
as may be required.
The paper is fed through the feed space between the form and platen at a right
angle to the line of motion of the inking rollers, whereby there is much less
complication than would be caused by feeding in the line of the motion of the
rollers, as in this case only one roller is required for spreading the ink on the form,
while in the other arrangement one roller is required for each color. Besides the
advantage of decreasing the expense of building the machine there is also a great
saving of ink by not having it to cover a great number of rollers, it being necessary
to wash the rollers at intervals in order to ensure the execution of good work.
The feeding mechanism is arranged opposite to the place of entrance of the paper,
which, being supplied in lengths, is drawn through the press in contradistinction to
being pushed, and thus prevented from gathering or wrinkling.
To
The length of feed of the paper is equal to each color on the form, so that an
impression of all the colors is given in the passage over the bed-plate.
accomplish this the form is set up in divisions or parts equal to the number of
colors to be printed.
As the paper is fed forward by an intermittent motion it reaches the first division
of the form, which, having received ink from the color on the first portion of the
inking roller, prints on the sheet the characters of said division of the form in the
color of the first portion of the said roller corresponding to the color on the first
sections of the distributing rollers. The sheet then reaches the next form, and has
printed on it the characters of said form in the color imparted to it from the next
length or portion of the inking roller corresponding to the color of the second
sections of the distributing rollers, and thus the work proceeds until finished, it
being noticed that a single inking roller imparts a distinct color to each division of
the form, and the intermittent feeding motion presents the length of paper succes-
sively to said divisions, so that when the paper has passed over the several divisions
the complete characteristics are printed in different colors.
Tapes are connected at one end to a horizontal rod at one edge of the bed-plate,
and at their other ends to pins at the other edge to prevent the papers being drawn
up from the platen as the latter descends. Pins may be used instead of the rod.
A gum-trough is used in connection with the right hand end of the bed-plate, in
which is situated a roller which gums or pastes the underside of the paper as it
passos over it, the roller being turned by the forward movement of the paper.
The printed paper is conveyed away from the feeding mechanism by any suitable
device.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th June 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR PRESSES FOR
CHROMATIC PRINTING." A communication from abroad by Peter Henry White,
Ermina Piper de Normandio, and George Monroe Wright, all of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in chromatic printing machines or presses,
and comprises means whereby the paper is fed to the said press at a right angle to
the line of motion of the inking rollers, whereby there is a simplification of the
mechanism of the press, and but one roller is required for spreading the different
colors on the form.
The said Invention also comprises the arranging of the feeding mechanism
opposite to the place of entrance of the paper, which, being supplied in lengths, is
drawn through the press in contradistinction to being pushed, and is thus prevented
from gathering or wrinkling.
It also comprises a form set up or constructed in divisions equal to the number
of colors to be printed, the paper being fed thereto by an intermittent motion,
-whereby the sevoral colors are applied successively by a single inking roller.
It further comprises forming the distributing or inking rollers of separated
sections, whereby the different colored inks are kept distinct and prevented from
improper union.
It further comprises a vertically operated plate provided with a platen or
impression-plate, and operating with the type-form suspended from the top plate of
the press.
It also comprises the imparting of vibratory or sliding motions to the distributing
rollers by means of cams on the inking cylinder.
It also comprises a type-inking roller in combination with mechanism operated
from a movable bed-plate for causing the said roller to pass under the inking
cylinder and form for properly spreading the ink.
It also comprises rods in combination with springs for preventing the falling of
the roller in the event of the breakage of the springs until the pressman or
attendant has noticed the break and new springs are supplied.
It also comprises mechanism for simultaneously feeding a plurality of strips.
It further comprises a bed-plate provided with mechanism for gumming or
pasting the under side of the paper.
In the accompanying Drawings,-
Figure 1 is a top view or plan of a machine or press constructed according to the
said Invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the cylinders.
Figures 3 and 4 shew a plan and side view of the bed plate.
Figures 5 and 6 shew a plan and side view of the platen.
Figure 7 is a front view of the said machine or press.
Figures 8 and 9 are end and back views of one of the levers.
Figures 10 and 11 are top and edge views of one of the guide strips.
Figure 12 is a back view of the said machine or press; and
Figure 13 is an end elevation thereof.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A represents the frame or housing of the press, and B the top plate, to the under
side of which the form C is suspended, for which purpose rabbeted strips a, a, are
employed. D represents the platen or impression-plate fitted in the movable bed E,
upon which the paper to be printed is laid and carried forward during the printing

page_text: operation, guide strips F being employed and rendered adjustable by means of
Blots b and screws c for different widths of paper. The bed-plate is provided with
screws d for adjusting the height of the platen. G represents a shaft which is
driven from the power or driving shaft I, and which carries crank-arms e, e, to
which are connected rods H, H, whose upper ends are properly secured to the bed-
plate E, whereby vertical motions are imparted to said bed-plate. Rods A¹, A¹, are
connected at their lower ends to the frame A and at their upper ends to the top
plate, and they form guides for the bed-plate. K, K, represent distributing rollers,
and L an inking cylinder; which are mounted on supports f secured to the frame A
and top plate B; and M represents an inking roller which is advanced and returned
in order to be brought into connection with the inking cylinder L and the type-
form by the vertical movements of the bed-plate E through the medium of the
connecting rods N, horizontal levers Q, levers O, and rock-shaft P. The inking
roller is held up against the form as it passes under the same by means of rods R
and springs S connected to the rear ends of the levers Q and arms g, g, of the
levers O. Should the springs break the rods R prevent the roller from falling until
the pressman or attendant notices the break and new springs are supplied, said rods
serving to support the springs at all times. The inking cylinder L is revolved by
ineans of the belt h which passes around a pulley 1 on one end of the shaft of said
cylinder and a pulley 2 on the driving shaft. The ends or heads of the cylinder
are provided with cams, as at and they act against annular guides ; on the
distributing rollers, whereby as the said rollers rotate they receive sliding motions
in the line of their axes, so as to cause a more perfect distribution of the ink. The
distributing rollers K are divided into sections, and each rotates in an ink-
trough of its own color, whereby the different colored inks are kept distinct, and
improper union of the inks is prevented. If desired, the inking cylinder and roller
may also be formed in sections similar to the rollers K. There will be as many
sections in the rollers as there are colors to be printed.
T, T¹, are shafts geared together by means of the wheels U, U¹, which are
provided with feed-rollers V. The rollers are adjustable on their shafts for the
purpose of being so arranged, when desired, as to feed a plurality of strips of paper
at one operation to receive differently from each other the colors from the inking
roller. An intermittent motion is given to the rollers so as to keep the paper
stationary when the impression is being given, and move it forward during the
intervals by the vertical movements of the bed-plate E, there being on one end of
the lower feed-wheel-shaft T a disc W provided with a spring detent k which
engages with the ratchet wheel X, and prevents its turning on the shaft in the
downward movement of the bed-plate. Y is a pinion fixed to the ratchet wheel,
and in connection with this pinion there is a toothed segment Y' which turns
partially on a permanent arm that projects from the bed-plate. An arm is
connected to the segment and jointed to a vertical rod m whose lower end is jointed
to the bracket n attached to the frame, so that as the bed-plate is descending, the
inner end of said arm is turned upward, giving a partial turn to the segment, which,
by turning the pinion Y, gives motion to the feed-rollers to feed the paper forward
in the downward movement of the bed-plate. The spring-detent k does not operate
in the upward movement of the bed-plate, and the pinion Y consequently turns
loose on the shaft T, thus preventing the movement of the rollers during the
impression. The arm is provided with a series of openings for the adjustment of
the vertical rod m to vary the length of feed of the paper as may be required.
It will be seen that the paper is fed through the feed-space between the form
and platen at a right angle to the line of motion of the inking rollers, whereby
there is much less complication than when feeding in the line of the motion of the
rollers, as in this case only one roller is required for spreading the ink on the form,
while in the other arrangement one roller is required for each color.
Besides the advantage of decreasing the expense of constructing the machine
there is also a great saving of ink by not having it to cover a great number of

page_text: rollers, it being necessary to wash the rollers at intervals in order to insure the
execution of good work.
It will also be seen that I arrange the feeding mechanism opposite to the place
of entrance of the paper, which, being supplied in lengths is drawn through the
press in contradistinction to being pushed, and is thus prevented from gathering or
wrinkling.
The length of feed of the paper is equal to each color on the form, so that an
impression of all the colors is given in the passage over the bed-plate.
To
accomplish this the form is set up in divisions or parts equal to the number of
colors to be printed. As the paper is fed forward by an intermittent motion it
reaches the first division of the form, which, having received ink from the color on
the first portion of the roller M, prints on the sheet the characters of said division
of the form in the color of the first portion of the roller M corresponding to the
color on the first sections of the distributing rollers K. The sheet then reaches the
next form, and has printed on it the characters of said form in the color imparted
to it from the next length or portion of the roller M. corresponding to the color of
the second sections of the distributing rollers K, and thus the work proceeds until
finished, it being understood that a single inking roller imparts a distinct color to
each division of the form, and the intermittent feeding motion presents the length
of paper successively to said divisions, so that when the paper has passed over the
several 'divisions the complete characteristics are printed in different colors.
Tapes are connected at one end to the horizontal rod q at one edge of the bed-
plate E, and at their other ends to pins r at the other edge to prevent the papers 8
being drawn up from the platen as the latter descends. Pins r may be used instead
of the rod q. A gum-trough is used in connection with the right hand end of the
bed-plate, in which is situated a roller 7 which gums or pastes the under side of
the paper as it passes over it, the roller being turned by the forward movement of
the paper.
The printed paper is conveyed away from the feeding mechanism by any suitable
device.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,―
First. The printing machine or press having its feed-space extending at a right
angle to the line of motion of the inking roller for the purpose set forth.
Second. The combination with a printing machine or press of intermittent
feeding mechanism located opposite to the place of entrance of the paper or strip
to be printed.
Third. In a printing machine or press the feeding space extending at a right
angle to the line of motion of the inking rollor, and having at the side opposite to
the place of entrance of the paper intermittent feeding mechanism, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. A printing machine or press having the form in divisions equal to the
number of colors to be printed in combination with the intermittent feeding
mechanism.
Fifth. The printing machine or press having rollers formed in separated sections,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The vertically-operated bed-plate provided with a platen or impression-
plate in combination with the type-form suspended from the top plate of the
machine or press, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. The inking cylinder provided with cams which engage with the distri-
buting rollers, whereby vibratory or sliding motions are imparted to the said rollers,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Eighth. The type-inking roller operated by the vertically moving bed-plate
through the medium of the rods N, the levers O, the rocking shaft, and the levers Q,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: Ninth. The type-inking roller M and levers Q in combination with the springs
and rods, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Tenth. The feed-rollers with the shafts adjustable thereon, and the ratchet feed
for simultaneously feeding a plurality of pieces or strips, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. The paste-trough and cylinder in combination with the bed-plate,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
RF5
ARM
THT
W. ROD. LAKE.
(11.8.)