IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER-PRESS PRINTING MACHINERY." LITHOGRAPHIC AND PROVISIONAL SPFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT William Caspar Kritch, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LETTER-PRESS PRINTING MACHINERY."
LITHOGRAPHIC AND
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Caspar Kritch
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th December 1880.
WILLIAM CASPAR KRITCH, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LITHOGRAPHIC AND LETTER PRESS PRINTING MACHINERY."
My Invention of improvements in printing machinry relates to the adaptation
of one machine to printing by the lithographic process as well as by the ordinary
method of printing from type.
"
33
My first improvement consists in the employment of an adjustable bed for the
reception of the "stone" when used for lithographic printing, and by a suitable
adjustment thereto I use the same bed for the reception of the usual"
chase" or
"forme in which the type is mounted when used for letter press printing. The
said adjustable bed I arrange by preference in a horizontal position. My second
improvement consists in making the "platen" with four or more working sides,
and with an arrangement for mounting and fixing a blanket on all sides; through
the centre of this platen I pass a strong bar or shaft, and upon which the said
platen can turn freely at intervals by means of a self acting arrangement of
mechanism as required; at each end of this strong bar or shaft are suitable guide
blocks which slide in grooves or guides formed in the principal framework of the
machine, and at right angles to the aforesaid adjustable bed, stone, or type. In the
process of printing, the above "platen" is caused to approach to and recede from
the lithographic stone or type, as the case may be, by means of suitably driven
cranks or eccentrics and links or draw-bars, and during the recession of the said
'platen" from the stone or type it is caused by a suitable arrangement of
mechanism to make a partial revolution, equal in amount to the same number of
degrees contained in the angle formed by the working sides or facets of said
'platen." A spring stop and suitable guides are provided, so as to ensure an
accurate correspondence between the surface of the "stone" or "type," and the
facet acting for the time being of the "platen." I feed the paper or material to
"
"

page_text: be printed on to the uppermost side of said " platen," and on all sides in turn as
they present themselves at the top position during the working of the machine,
the paper or other material being held in position by an arrangement of endless
friction driven tapes provided for that purpose, and by means of which tapes the
printed sheets are delivered from the machine during the working of the same.
"
"
The endless and frictionally driven tapes answer the purpose of frisket fingers
usually used for holding the paper or other material to be printed on to the
platen," and has a proper amount of tension given to them by means of a weight
or its equivalent. If preferred frisket fingers may be used alone or in combination
with tapes for the above purposes. Should it be desired the operator can instantly
throw off the impression surface of the "platen" from the stone or type whilst the
machine is in motion by an arrangement of excentrics on the ends of the strong
bar or shaft above referred to, which passes through the centre of the "platen
and levers and catch within easy command, which has the effect of drawing away
any and all sides of said platen a short distance from the stone or type. The ink
fountain is so arranged as to admit of ready removal when a change of colour is
required. The fountain roller has an intermittent revolving motion for supplying
the ink through a system of distributing and other rollers, and an endless and
continuously travelling sheet, through which it is conveyed to the inking rollers
proper. These latter rollers are mounted in a frame or carriage to which a hori-
zontal motion across the stone or type chase is imparted by a pair of face cams
(one of which is on the side of the main driving wheel), a pair of horizontal sliding
bars, and a system of links and levers suitably arranged for the purpose. The said
roller carriage or frame can, at the pleasure of the operator, be disconnected from
the said system of links and levers by means of a hand lever placed in a convenient
position for such purpose, and in connection with a slotted link which allows of the
inotion of the said links and levers without moving said frame and rollers, and
which in such case remain in a stationary position near the ink fountain and
distributing and other rollers and the endless sheet above referred to.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Caspar Kritch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th June 1881.
WILLIAM CASPAR KRITCH, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LITHOGRAPHIC AND LETTER PRESS PRINTING MACHINERY."
This Invention of improvements in printing machinery relates to the adaptation
of one machine to printing by the lithographic process as well as by the ordinary
method of printing from type. I employ an adjustable bed for the reception of
the "stone" when used for lithographic printing, such bed I adjust by a number
of set screws until the surface of the "stone is brought to a proper position for
printing from. When used for letterpress printing I use the same bed and
adjustment for the usual type "chase" or "forme" in which the type is mounted
or locked up.
"
ог
The said adjustable bed I arrange by preference in a horizontal position. I
make the platen with four or more working sides, which sides I surround with
a blanket and fix by passing the ends through an opening provided at one corner
of the platen and through a slotted bar or winch-roller which I turn until the
blanket is stretched sufficiently tight; the said winch is kept in position by a
ratchet wheel and pawl. The object of making the platen with a number of
working sides is to allow of more time for the laying on and adjustment of the sheets
of paper or other material in the proper position for receiving the impression.
The said platen I mount upon a strong bar or shaft, upon which it can turn
freely at intervals by means of a self-acting arrangement of mechanism provided
for the purpose.
At one end of the said platen the said bar or shaft passes through
and is free to revolve in a guide block, and at the other end the hub or boss of
the platen passes through and beyond a similar guide block; and on the projecting
part of the hub or boss is keyed a ratchet wheel having the same number of
divisions as there are working sides on the platen. The above guide blocks take
into and slide in guiding grooves in the principal framework and at right angles
to the plane of the aforesaid adjustable bed for the reception of the "stone
type "forme."
In the process of printing, the above named platen is caused
to approach or recede from the lithographic "stone" or type "forme" (as the
case may be) by means of two suitably driven cranks or eccentrics, and links
or draw-bars. I provide means for ensuring the approach of the platen in a steady
and perfectly parallel movement to the type bed. In order to prevent "slipping
or "slurring" guides are fixed in the edges of the type bed projecting upwards,
and having slightly tapered ends, which guides enter into corresponding
holes in the platen, and adjust the same some time before it comes into
contact with the "stone" or "type." The turning of the platen on its receding
or upward motion from the "stone" or "type" I accomplish by means of
a stud, link, lever, and pawl acting on the before mentioned ratchet wheel,
the said link being attached at one end to the fixed stud in the framework of
the machine, and being at the other end in connection with said lever, pawl,
and ratchet wheel causes the platen during its ascent to make the necessary angular
movement; and in order to prevent the platen during the above movement from
overrunning itself I provide a plunger and spring in one of the aforesaid guide
blocks; the said plunger presses against one end of and acts as a "retard" to the
platen, and at the termination of the stroke by the action of the said spring the
plunger shoots forward into one of a series of holes provided for the purpose; this
steadies the platen during its downward motion, when it is finally adjusted by the
before named guides in the type bed. I feed the paper or material to be printed
JJ

page_text: "
The
on the uppermost side of the platen, and on all sides in turn as they present
themselves in the upper position during the working of the machine, the paper or
other material being held in position by an arrangement of endless frictionally
driven tapes provided for that purpose, and by means of which tapes the printed
sheets are delivered from the machine during the working of the same.
endless and frictionally driven tapes answer the purpose of frisket fingers usually
used for holding the paper or other material to be printed on to the platen, and
have a proper amount of tension given to them by means of weights or their
equivalent. If preferred, frisket fingers or grippers may be used alone or in
combination with tapes for the above purposes. Should the operator desire to
instantly throw off the impression surface of the platen from the "stone" or "type"
whilst the machine is in motion, he can do so by an arrangement of eccentrics on
the ends of the strong bar or shaft (above referred to as passing through the centre
of the platen) operated by levers and a catch within easy command, which has the
effect of drawing away any and all sides of said platen a short distance from the
"stone" or "type." The ink fountain is so arranged as to admit of ready removal
and the substitution of another when a change of colour is required. The fountain
roller has an intermittent revolving motion for supplying the ink through a system
of distributing and other rollers, and an endless and continuously travelling sheet
from which it is conveyed to the inking or "forme" rollers proper. These latter
rollers are mounted in frames or carriages to which a horizontal motion across
the "stone," or "type chase," or
"forme is imparted by a pair of cams, one
of which is on the side of the main driving wheel, and the other on the side of
a disc on the opposite end of the crank shaft. These cams actuate a pair of
horizontal sliding bars and a system of links and levers suitably arranged for the
purpose. The said roller carriages or frames can, at the pleasure of the operator, be
disconnected from the said system of links and levers by means of a hand lever
placed in a convenient position for the purpose and in connection with slotted
links which allow of the motion of the horizontal sliding bars and slotted links
without moving the said frames and rollers, and which in such case remain in a
stationary position near the ink fountain and distributing and other rollers, and the
endless sheet above referred to, till again required. In the accompanying two
Sheets of Drawings, the same reference letters refer to the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated. Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is an elevation of the working or
feeding end of a printing machine according to my Invention, and Fig. 2 is an
elevation shewing the right hand or driving side of the machine; Fig. 3, Sheet 2,
is a plan partly in section in the line 1, 1, Figs. 2 and 5; Fig. 4 is a back view
shewing the inking fountain, inking rollers, and carriages for the same, the upper
portions of the machine not being shewn in this view; Fig. 5 is an elevation of
the left hand side of the machine shewing the disengaging motion of the inking
carriages. A is the framework of the machine; A¹ the bed for the reception of the
type, "forme," and "stone;" A² are screws for adjusting the movable part A³, so
that the impression surface of the "stone or "type" may be brought to the
required position; B, B, are the driving pulleys on the shaft C, on the other end
of which is the fly wheel D. On this shaft C is keyed the pinion E, which gears
with the wheel F on the stud G; by this wheel motion is transmitted to the
wheel H on the shaft I, on the outer end of which is the pinion J, which g
with the main driving wheel K, keyed on one end of the shaft L, on the other end
of which is keyed the cam diso M. On the outer faces of the wheel K and the cam
disc M are fixed crank pins N, N, to which are jointed the links or drawbars O, O.
The upper ends of the links or drawbars are jointed to the eccentric ends of the
bar or shaft P, upon which the platen is mounted, and serve to impart a
vertical up and down motion to the said bar or shaft P and platen Q. Rand S
are guide blocks in connection with the shaft P and platen Q, and take
into and are guided by vertical slots in the framework of the machine.
Pivotted on the fixed stud T in the framework A is the link U, the outer
end of which is attached to the lever V, which turns around the same
.gears

page_text: "
"
"
centre of motion as the platen Q and the shaft P, and carries a pawl W,
acting on the teeth of the ratchet wheel X keyed on the "hub or boss of the
platen Q. By the action of the link U, lever V, pawl W, and ratchet wheel X, the
platen Q during its upward movement is caused to make a partial revolution
through an angle equal to that angle subten ded by each of its sides or facets. Y is
a plunger attached to the guide block R, and which by the action of a spring is
caused to press against the end surface of the platen during its partial revolution,
and prevents the same from over-running itself. At the termination of the motion
of the platen the tapered end of the plunger is pressed into one of a series of holes
provided for the purpose, and this steadies and guides the platen Q in its descent
to the final adjusting guides Z, Z, Z, Z, and by this means ensures a perfectly
parallel approach to the type "forme or "stone" as the case may be: In the
upward movement of the platen Q it leaves the type "forme or "stone in a
manner perfectly parallel thereto until the pawl W comes into contact with a
tooth of the ratchet wheel X and causes the platen Q to turn on its shaft P. On
the completion of such turning of the platen, or previously thereto, the paper may
be laid on the upper side of the platen Q, and may be adjusted thereon during its
downward movement. This is a considerable advantage when large sheets of paper
have to be dealt with. The parts a, b, c, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, and Fig. 5, Sheet 2, are
for regulating the amount of pressure or impression of the platen Q on the type
"forme
"
or stone," and for suddenly removing the same while the machine is at
work, and are fully described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
Kritch and Greenwood, and numbered 1602, of 1875. On the back of the machine
is placed the ink fountain d (see Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5) regulated and held in position
by screws e, e, e, e.
When a change of colour is required to be made, or the ink
fountain is required to be removed, this can easily be done by loosening the said
screws. In connection with the ink fountain is a fountain roller f having an
intermittent revolving motion given to it by the ratchet wheel g, pawl h, lever i,
and link j, actuated by the crank disc k driven from the main shaft L by the
gearing l, m, n. The amount of ink taken up by the fountain roller is transferred
by the backward and forward motion of the vibrating intermediate roller o
(which receives its vibrating motion from the stud pin the wheel n acting
on the curved arm of the swing frame q in which the roller o is mounted)
on to the main inking cylinder 1. This inking cylinder receives continuous
rotary motion from the above mentioned wheel n. From this cylinder the
ink is transferred to the endless sheet or apron 8, and from it to the roller t
which is driven by frictional contact therewith. This latter roller t is acted
upon by the distributing or changer roller u, also driven by frictional contact
with the roller t. The said distributing or changer roller receives an endwise
reciprocating motion from the cam von the end of the crank disc shaft j", as
shewn in Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet 2. The ink is from these rollers re-transferred to
the apron or endless sheet s before-mentioned, and thence to the "forme" rollers
w, x, y. Riders may be used if desirable. The sliding frames or roller carriages 2,
noving in suitable guides a', a¹, over the "forme or stone are actuated by
links b, b¹, levers c', c¹, slotted links d¹, d', sliding bars e¹, e¹, and bowls taking
into the cams, one of which is on the main driving wheel K, and the other on the
disc M.
"
«
"
"
The inking rollers are thus moved forward and backward across the " forme or
"stone" automatically before each impression and during one revolution of the
main shaft L. When the machine is used for lithographic work, a damping roller f¹
is caused to precede the "forme" or inking rollers in their movement across the
"stone," and is so arranged that it comes into contact with the "stone" in the
forward movement of the roller, and in the backward movement is made to pass
clear of the "stone." When desired the operator may stop the inking rollers from
passing across the "forme" or "stone" by means of the bell crank lever g', rod h¹, and
the cam-like levers i¹ and j¹ acting on the bowls k' and in the slotted links d' and d¹.
By these means he may lift the "gab” part of the said slotted links off the pins m³

page_text: and n¹, and allow of the movement of the sliding bars e₁, e¹, and slotted links d'
and d forward and backward without such movement being communicated to the
roller carriages z. This disengagement must take place when the roller carriages
are in the back position, and near to the ink fountain d. n¹, n", are endless
tapes for holding the sheets of paper on the platen while they are being printed
and for delivering them afterwards; p³, p², are cords or chains passing over
pulleys p, p, to weights p¹1, 22111, for keeping the tapes n¹, n11, in a state of
tension; is a slotted bar or winch roller with ratchet wheel 2111 and pawl 21111
for stretching the blanket around the platen Q.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into practical effect, I desire to have it understood that I do not claim
generally as of this Invention the use of one machine for both lithographic and
letter-press printing, but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me under the Letters Patent first hereinbefore in
part recited is,-
1st. In a machine for lithographic or letterpress printing the use of a platen
with four or more working sides, substantially as and for the purposes herein above
described and shewn.
2nd. The arrangement, in combination with the platen having four or more
working sides, of mechanism for giving to the said platen an automatic and
requisite amount of intermittent and rotary motion, and mechanism for steadying
and adjusting the said platen to a perfectly parallel position with the type "forme
or "stone," substantially as hereinabove described and shewn.
3rd. The mechanism for disconnecting the "forme" roller carriages and rollers
from the levers for working the same, substantially as hereinabove described and
shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Caspar Kritch, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM CASPAR KRITCH. (L.S.)