IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR LETTER-PRESS PRINTING."
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Daniel Thomas Powell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1877.
"
DANIEL THOMAS POWELL, of 13, St. Bride Street, in the City of London.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR LETTER-PRESS PRINTING."
This Invention relates to improvements in that kind of printing presses or
apparatus for pulling proofs known as galley or proof presses, and the adaptation of
the principle of printing on a web of paper to the pulling of proofs.
My press or apparatus consists of two upright standards held together by ordinary
stretchers, and supporting two rollers placed vertically, one below the other, the
peripheries of which are distant one from another a little more than an inch. The
lower roller is held in its position by its axis being fitted into holes drilled in the
side frames or upright standards. The upper roller, which being covered with
blanket or other suitable material, is an impression cylinder, is fixed in bearers
which are again fixed in slots in the side frames for the purpose of rising and falling,
as required, by the variation in thickness of different galleys.
A flat steel spring is applied for the purpose of obtaining an impression, the two
ends of which rest on the bearers, and a screw in one of the stretchers immediately
over the spring regulates the amount of pressure.
An ordinary ink duct is fixed to one end of the standards for the purpose of
supplying ink to an ordinary composition inking roller, which is suspended under-
neath it in the following manner: Two arms are fastened to the standards, so that
they may be raised in a manner herein-after to be described, and a rod is passed
through holes drilled in their extremities, on which the composition roller
revolves.
The process of inking the composition roller is performed in the following way :-
Immediately underneath the arms above mentioned a rod is placed having its bearings
in the side frames, and attached to which are two small cambs and a lever. By
altering the position of the lever the cambs lift the arms which carry the inking
roller until it touches the duct. A handle attached to the duct roller is then turned,
and the ink is transferred in this manner from the duct to the inking roller, which
is then lowered by replacing the lever in its former position in order to ink the
typo in the galley, a proof of which is to be taken.
The roll of paper being of unlimited length, and any suitable width, is reeled on
a wooden roller having an iron spindle through it. Two slots at the top of the

page_text: standards receive the iron spindle, and a brake is applied to prevent the paper
unwinding too quickly. One end of the paper is then led between the two rollers
first above mentioned..
At each end of the standards is fixed a table or board, with gauges for guiding
the galleys. In order to take a proof the galley is placed upon the table or board in
front of the machine against the gauge, and is then pushed forward by hand, or in
any other suitable manner under the inking roller, which revolves by the friction of
the type, receiving a supply of ink, and then between the two rollers first above
mentioned, the friction of the type causing the impression cylinder to revolve, and
the paper to unwind. The galley having passed between the rollers now rests on
the other table on board, whence it may be removed, and the paper which has been
printed upon is severed from the roll by being pressed or pulled against a knife edge,
which is screwed to the standards at a slight distance from the impression cylinder.
The end of paper is thus left in position to receive the next impression.