IM- PROVEMENTS IN PRINTING, STAMPING, EMBOSSING, PERFORATING, AND OTHER "
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Weightman Harrison, of Lorimer Road,
Walworth, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PRINTING, STAMPING, EMBOSSING, PERFORATING, AND OTHER
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Weightman
Harrison, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 27th January 1862.
I, CHARLES WEIGHTMAN HARRISON, of Lorimer Road, Walworth, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING, STAMPING, EMBOSSING, PERFORATING, AND OTHER
LIKE OPERATIONS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to
be as follows :—
This Invention relates to improvements upon or substitutes for the ordinary
printing press, and stamping, beating, embossing, and perforating machines.
In it the operating pressure, or percussive force, is obtained by the adoption.
of electro-magnetic action, so as to secure an important saving in the labour
and time ordinarily required in working such machines. In the case of the
printing press the tympan, or actual impressing surface, when brought into its
proper position over the types, blocks, plates, or other printing surface is
drawn forcibly down to give the required printing pressure by means of

page_text: suitably disposed electro-magnets, or electro-magnets and keepers or coils of
conducting wire. In some cases the inking rollers or ink suppliers, are also
drawn upon the form of types, blocks, plates, or other printing surface used so
that impressions in a great variety of colours may be produced with great
rapidity. A similar arrangement may also be used in the process of block
printing for fabrics. As applied to machinery for stamping or beating gold,
silver and other metal leaf or sheets, the present improvements are intended
for producing effects equivalent to those of the ordinary hand hammering
process, which occupies considerable time and skill. By means of suitable
mechanical arrangements, the operating hammer or series of hammers are
actuated by electro-magnetism, and the metallic sheet or leaf operated upon,
may be carried forward by a "step" electro motion. In embossing and
perforating machines motion is given by electro-magnetism to a marker or
perforator which acts upon a moveable surface carrying the material to be
operated upon. .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Weightman Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WEIGHTMAN HARRISON, of Lorimer Road, Walworth, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Charles Weightman Harrison, Her special license that I,
the said Charles Weightman Harrison, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Weightman Harrison, my
executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the termi
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRINTING, STAMPING, EMBOSSING, PERFORATING, AND OTHER LIKE OPERATIONS, AND
IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Charles Weightman Harrison, my execu
+

page_text: tors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
or under the hand and seal of one of them, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office, within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Weightman Harrison, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:―
My said Invention relates to improvements upon or substitutes for the
ordinary printing press, and stamping, beating, embossing, and perforating
machines. In it the operating pressure or percussive force is obtained by the
adoption of electro-magnetic action, so as to secure an important saving in the
labour and time ordinarily required in working such machines. In the case.
of the printing press, the tympan, or actual impressing surface, when brought
into its proper position over the types, blocks, plates, or other printing surface
is drawn forcibly down to give the required printing pressure by means of
suitably disposed electro-magnets or electro-magnets and keepers or coils of
conducting wire. In some cases the inking rollers or ink suppliers are also
drawn upon the form of types, blocks, plates, or other printing surface used so.
that impressions in a great variety of colors may be produced with great
rapidity. A similar arrangement may also be used in the process of block
printing for fabrices. As applied to machinery for stamping or beating gold,
silver and other metal leaf or sheets, the present improvements are intended
for producing effects equivalent to those of the ordinary hand hammering
process which requires considerable time and skill. By means of suitable
mechanical arrangements, the operating hammer or series of hammers are
actuated by electro-magnetism, and the metallic sheet or leaf operated upon
may be carried forward by a "step" electric motion. In embossing and
perforating machines motion is given by electro-magnetism to a marker or
perforator which acts upon a moveable surface carrying the material to be
operated upon.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures in the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding
Figures.

page_text: Figure 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represents a plan, and
Figure 2, an end elevation of one of my improved printing presses. A is a
table or frame upon which the bed plates for the type are fixed; B, B, and
B', B', are electro-magnets placed at each end of the frame, and supported
by the brackets C, C', through which adjusting screws for altering the position
of the magnets work; D is the platten or actual impressing surface fixed by
means of the arms E, E, on the axis F, which works in the bearings G, G, ;
H is an armature fixed to the ends of the arms E, E; I is an electrotome,
or, make-and-break contact, (an end view of which is shewn separately in
Figure 3,) fixed in the axis F, this electrotome is in communication through the
spring K, with one of the poles of a suitable voltaic or other battery, the other
pole of the battery being joined to one end of both the conductors or coils
around the magnets, the other end of the conductors being joined separately
one to each of the springs L and L'. These springs are insulated from each
other by the non-conducting bracket M, upon which they are fixed; N, N, are
two cylindrical cases enclosing spiral or other suitable springs, each being fixed
as shewn at one end to the frame A, and at the other end to the studs O, O,
which project from the short ends of the arms E, E, and act as a counter-
balance to the platten. The operation of the press is as follows:-Two forms
of type are first placed on the bed of the frame one on each side of the axis F,
and connection made with the battery in the manner herein-before described.
One of the type forms is then inked, and a sheet of paper having been placed
on the platten the small handle P is turned, by which the spring K is
released from contact with the electrotome I, thus breaking the electric
circuit. The platten is then turned over upon the type form at the other
end of the frame, and in so doing the tongue a of the electrotome forms
contact with one of the springs L, which brings its magnets into operation,
the handle P having in the meantime been re-adjusted so as to establish a
connection with the battery, and as the armature has been brought near to the
poles of this magnet it is within this limited space suddenly and powerfully
attracted, drawing down with it the platten whereby the paper receives an
impression from the type. Another sheet of paper having been placed on the
upper face of the platten, and the other type form inked, the electric circuit
is broken by moving the handle P, as before, and the platten being then
turned over again brings the tongue a of the electrotome into contact with the
other spring L', which directs the electric circuit around its magnet, and as it
draws down the armature another impression is obtained. In this manner
the work is simply and rapdily performed, and with very slight exertion of
manual labour.

page_text: Figure 4 illustrates in elevation another mode of carrying this part of my
Invention into operation. A is the frame, upon the bed of which the forms of
type are placed; B, B, and B¹, B', are electro-magnets fixed one to each of
the four corners of each platten, which magnets act on the: armatures H, H,
H', H', also fixed to the corners of the plattens D, D. These plattens are
connected together, and balanced over the pullies R, R, by the chain S; P is
a handle by moving which the electric circuit may be broken as required; T,
T, T, T', are guide rods by which the plattens are held in their true positions.
The operation of this form of press will be easily understood by drawing down
one of the plattens; the electro-magnets acting on its armatures are thrown
into operation by a suitable electrotome placed at b, the construction of which
being well known it is not necessary further to describe; whilst one platten
is in action the type form under the other is being inked as before.
Figure 5 represents an arrangement for bringing the inking rollers in contact.
with the printing.surface of a cylindrical press.. A is the cylinder to which the
forms of type or blocks are attached; B, C, D, and E, are sets of inking.
and diffusing rollers, the inking rollers being carried on the end of a lever C,
at the other end of which an armature is fixed; F, F, F, F, are electro-
magnets, which operate on the armatures, and thereby bring the inking
rollers in contact with the printing surface at desired periods regulated by
electrodes (G) fixed on the axis of the cylinder, which by suitable connections
as is well understood, complete the circuit of the current around the magnets;
a separate and distinct electrotome is employed to each set of rollers, and on
the periphery of each as many divisions or projections are made as there are
printing forms to each colour. In this way it will be readily seen any
number of colors may be printed at every revolution of the cylinder.
With reference to that part of my Invention which relates to machinery-
for stamping or beating, and for embossing or perforating, the mode in which
it may be carried into operation is shewn in Figures 6 and 7. A is a hammer
of the embossing or perforating part of the machine, as the case may be, fixed
on the lever B, working on the axis C; D, D, are electro-magnets, which on
proper connection being made with a suitable battery attract the armatures
F, F, secured to the other end of the lever B; as soon as the armatures
arrive close to the poles of the magnets, the electric current is broken by the
electrotome G, the springs H, H, then draw back the lever, by which motion
the circuit of the current is again completed, and another stroke of the machine
is given, and continued with great rapidity.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used, or carried

page_text: into effect.. I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general construction, arrangement, and combination of printing
machines with electro-magnetic apparatus for producing the required pressure
as herein-before described.
Second, the mode herein-before described of operating the ink suppliers, or
rollers of printing machines whereby a variety of colours may be rapidly
printed.
Third, the system or mode of working the hammers of marking, perforating,
or embossing machines as herein-before described.
In witness whereof; I, the said Charles Weightman Harrison, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of July, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
CHARLES WEIGHTMAN HARRISON. (L.S.)