CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE IMPLEMENTS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN PRINTING, WHETHER FROM TYPES, FROM BLOCKS, OR FROM PLATES
Year: 1813

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BRYAN
DONKIN, of Fort Place, Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty King George the Third, by His Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster,
the Twenty-third day of November now last past, did give and grant unto
Richard Mackenzie Bacon, of the City of Norwich, Printer, and me, the said
Bryan Donkin, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that we, the said Richard Mackenzie Bacon and Bryan Donkin, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, and such others as we, the said Richard Mackenzie
Bacon and Bryan Donkin, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
IMPLEMENTS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN PRINTING, WHETHER FROM TYPES, FROM
BLOCKS, OR FROM PLATES;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a
proviso, obliging us, the said Richard Mackenzie Bacon and Bryan Donkin,
or one of us, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or, under
the hand and seal of one of us, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature
of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
and to cause the same to be inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the

page_text: date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the said recited Letters,
reference being thereto had, will more fully appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Bryan Donkin, do hereby declare that the nature of the said improvements in
the implements or apparatus employed in printing, whether from types, from
blocks, or from plates, consists in adapting and fixing the types, blocks, or
plates from which impressions are to be taken upon a revolving axle or axis,
so as that the printing surfaces of the types, blocks, or plates shall assume
a prismatic figure of any required number of sides, which for the sake of
distinction we shall call the printing prism. This printing prism is mounted
in a frame with the means of turning round upon its axle or axis. Upon a
second axle or axis laid parallel with that of the printing prism we apply
a second revolving figure (which we shall call the platten, merely because it
performs the office of the platten in the common printing press,) in such a
manner that the interval or distance between the opposed surfaces of the
said prism and platten may be the same in every part of the revolution. It
will appear evident from such an arrangement that the interval or distance
between the revolving platten and the printing prism may be regulated so
as to produce the proper degree of compression upon paper or any other
material passed between them, and that by previously inking the types, blocks,
or plates upon the printing prism the desired impression will be obtained.
The types, blocks, or plates may be inked by means of balls, such as are com-
monly used by printers, but we prefer doing it with rollers or cylinders, which we
so arrange in relation to the said prism that one or more of suchinking cylinders
or rollers are made to revolve in contact with the face of the types, blacks, or
plates during each revolution of the prism. The mode of constructing the
inking cylinders or rollers, of supplying and regulating the quantity of ink, and
how they are to be employed, will be better understood when we more par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the manner in which we carry our said
Invention into effect, which we shall now proceed to do.
The annexed Drawings marked No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4,) in all of
which Drawings the same letters of reference denote the same thing,) exhibit
different views of an efficient apparatus for carrying our said Invention or
improved implements or apparatus into effect. A, a, is a printing prism,
présenting four sides of types, blocks, or plates (in this instance types are
represented). I, i, the platten, placed immediately below the prism. The
pivots at each end of the axis upon which the printing prism and the platten
revolve are supported upon and turn in proper bearings in the frame B, B;
upon the extended axis h and i of the prism and platten are fixed the two

page_text: wheels 1) and E respectively, which by means of teeth take or work into each
other, and are put in motion by a further connection of wheelwork Fand Ġ
from the winch and fly wheel H. The surface of the platten being formed as
shown in the section. Figure 3, applies itself in its revolution to the surface of
the types, blocks, or plates, so that a sheet of paper being introduced between
the platten and the printing prism will receive the requisite pressure for
producing the impression. (But we sometimes give another form or shape to
theplatten, namely, that of a cylinder or roller, the adaptation of which we will
afterwards describe.)
The ink or colouring matter is applied to the types by means of the
cylinder or roller K, placed above the prism, which roller is composed of
a soft, elastic substance upon a metallic cylinder, and in order that its surface
may always apply to the types, its spindle is supported by and turns upon or
in the pieces L, which pieces being free to move upon the axis n of the
roller N (the extremities of which work in the frame B) permit the cylinder
K to rise and fall, and accomodate itself to the motion of the prism. The
inking cylinder receives its ink from a second cylinder M, which we call the
distributing roller (also supported by and turning in the pieces L), having
also an elastic surface, and the said distributing roller M is supplied with
ink by the roller N, above mentioned, which is made of metal, and as truly
cylindrical as possible. The ink is lodged in quantity against the said
roller N, by a steel plate O the edge of which, being placed at a small
adjustable distance from the circumference, permits the roller N as it revolves
to carry down upon its surface a thin film of ink, which being taken off by
the distributing roller is applied to the surface of the inking cylinder, and, as
before mentioned, from thence to the types. The sheet of paper is introduced
(see the perspective view, Fig. 1,) by placing it upon a blanket, which is
extended upon a feeding board P (Fig. 1), and drawn into the machine at
a proper time, by having a small ruler 2 fixed to the said blanket, the ends of
which are taken forwards by two studs b, attached to endless chains, which are
extended from the wheels cat the end of the platten to other wheels d, which
are supported in the frame of the feeding board. The said wheels c, having
teeth cutering the links of the chains, cause them to traverse when the machine
revolves. At the proper time the pins b draw the ruler 2 and blanket
forwards and introduce into the machine the paper, which by passing between
the platten and prisin is printed, as before mentioned. This is the general
action of the machine, and we shall now describe more particularly the several
parts.
The page or pages, whether types, blocks, or plates, are placed in frames or

page_text: galliesa, and fastened by screws (or otherwise)at the ends, the shape and size of
the gallies being adapted to the size of the column, page, or pages to be printed.
These gallies are attatched to the four sides of the axis of the prism by the
screw clamps 1, and so adjusted that their faces form a true four-sided prism.
The means of attachment and adjustment may be varied indefinitely at the will
of the maker. By relieving the clamps the gallies can quickly be removed and
others put in their places. The platten I is, as the section (Fig. 3) shews,
composed of four segments of cylinders i,attatched to the different sides of the
central axis I by means of screws, and these segments being proportioned, as
in the Drawing, to the dimention and sides of the prism, the surface when it
revolves will in all the required positions preserve an accurate contact with the
blanket and paper interposed between it and the types. The two wheels D, E,
which cause the prism and platten to accompany each other, are formed as
shewn in Fig. 4, to correspond with the prism and platten. Thus, the upper
wheel D is a square with its angles rounded off, and the pitch or geometrical
outline is exactly the same in size as that of the prism. The lower wheel E
is of the same shape as the platten, and its pitch line the exact size of the
surface thereof. These wheels being toothed, as the Figure shows, the one
must revolve with the other in such a manner as to have equal velocities at the
opposing surfaces, so that no slipping or sliding can take place between the
said surfaces of the printing cylinder and platten at the line of pressure. To
regulate the pressure upon the paper the bearings in which the pivots of the
platten are supported can be elevated by screws 3. Should derangement of the
action of the wheels D and E be apprehended, universal joints may be applied
in their axis at R. The inking cylinder K is caused to preserve its proper
distance from the centre of the prism by wheels S, fixed upon its axis, and
resting upon shapes T, fixed upon the axis of the prism. Each of the shapes T,
like the wheel D, has four flat sides, corresponding in size with the printing
surfaces. The angles are rounded off and form segments of a circle, the center
of which is that of the axis of the prism. The wheels Sare the same size as
the inking cylinders, therefore, as they rest upon the wheel T, they prevent the
ink cylinder pressing upon the printing surface with any more than a sufficient
force to distribute the ink. The ink cylinder is turned round by a cog wheel V,
upon the extremity of the axis of the prism, and the said wheel V is of the
same shape as the wheels D and shapes T, and engages another wheel W
upon the end of the spindle of the inking cylinder. The latter wheel likewise
gives motion to the distributing roller by a pinion, and this again turns tho
ink roller by a third pinion g, fixed upon the end of its axis n, which is
supported upou bearings on the frame B. The pieces L, which support the

page_text: pivots of the distributing roller and inking cylinder are fitted upon the axis
of the inking cylinder (as before noticed); so as to rise and fall upon its
axle, and the distances of the rollers and cylinder being thus kept invariably
the same, their circumferences are kept accurately in contact to commu-
nicate the ink from one to the other. The steel plate O, which (as before
mentioned) regulates the quantity of ink that the roller N shall take round
with it, is supported by a bar of metal extending across the fixed frame B.
There are pieces of metal fixed upon the plate O by thumb nuts, which
prevent the ink flowing off at the ends, and they enter into grooves formed
round the ink roller N near its ends.
The machine is put in motion, as before mentioned, by the handle with the
fly wheel H, but any other power may be applied. The frame supporting the
feeding board P consists of two rails X, fitted upon the axis of the platten,
and supported at the opposite ends by a brace from the framing; they sustain
the pivots of the wheels d for the endless chains, above mentioned. Two
rulers X are fixed at cach side of the feeding board, and forming a lodgement
for the ends of the ruler 2, attached to the blanket), which ruler slides upon X
when it is advanced by the chains. The spaces in the platten roller between
the segments i, except one are filled up by pieces of wood, and into that one
the ruler 2 is received, when it passes through the machine. In the interval,
while the spaces between the types are passing over the sheet and leave
the margins between the pages, the paper is not held between the platten and
prism, but, to prevent it from slipping during this interval, the blanket and
paper are pressed down upon the pieces of wood, which fill up the spaces in the
platten by the weight of rollers or wires 4, the ends of which are fitted into
slits in cocks 5, projecting from the axis of the prism in such manner, that
when they are at the upper part of the revolution they fall by their own weight
(or by any other means) into the spaces at the angles of the prism between the
pages, and thus escape the ink cylinder; but when they are at the lower part
of their revolution, they fall upon the paper, and hold it with sufficient force
upon the pieces of wood in the platten to carry the paper forwards, in the
interval, when the types do not act upon it. The adjustments of:.the
machine may be varied, but those adopted in the mode of construction which
we have been describing (for the construction also may be much varied) are,
in addition to those already mentioned, the following:-The segments i upon
the platten are attached to the central axis I by three screws at each end;
the two middle screws (represented with square heads) draw,, the segments
down upon the central axis, whilst the others (which are turned by a screw-
driver, bear them off. Screws are also provided for side adjustment, to
secure parallelism between the said segments and the axis. By means of these

page_text: screws the segments can be accurately adjusted, till they are found by experi
ment to apply correctly to the types, and make an equal impression on all
parts of the sheet. To regulate the degree of general pressure, the screws 3,
beneath the bearings of the platten, are turned, as before mentioned. The
degree of pressure with which the ink rollers bears upon the printing surface
is regulated by the size of the shapes T, which support its weight; and to
render these capable of adjustment, each is composed of 4 pieces marked 6,
attached by screws 7 to a central piece, which is fixed upon the axle, and as
these pieces form the 4 flat sides of the shape, they admit of being adjusted
by other screws to a greater or less distance from the axis, and of course may
be made to bear up the ink cylinder till its pressure on the types is equal
throughout the whole surface, and sufficient to supply the ink properly. The
ink cylinder is adjustable as to its pressure against the distributing roller. For
this purpose the bearings, which support this cylinder, are fitted upon the
pieces L to slide, being capable of regulating by means of screws, shewn in
Fig. 5 at 8. In a similar manner the distributing roller can be adjusted to a
proper distance from the inking cylinder. [Note.-When the machine is not
in use, the contact of the three cylinders is removed by sliding the bearings m
and upon the pieces L. till the cylinders do not touch each other, to prevent
the elastic rollers from becoming indented. For this purpose, those screws
which fasten the bearings slide in grooves cut through L, and have thumb
nuts 9, by which they can be fastened.] The distance of the plate O from the
roller N can be adjusted by screws 22, and fastened by thumb nuts. This regu-
lates the degree of colour the impression will have, by permitting the roller N
to take more or less ink. Behind the inking cylinder K is placed a rubber or
scraper, Fig. 4, to press very lightly against the cylinder, thus preventing the
ink from accumulating in rings round the cylinder. It is fitted upon centers,
and held up by a lever, which is suspended by a catch y at the end of the
piece L. This catch is withdrawn when the machine is not at work, and then
the scraper falling down upon its center does not touch the cylinder. It is
necessary that the wheels D and E should be placed upon their axis in such a
position that their curvature will correspond with the curvature of the prism
and platten. For this purpose, the universal joint R is fitted upon the axis of
the wheel with a round part that it may turn on it. A piece of metal is fixed
fast upon the spindle l, and has a hole in it for the reception of a tooth s, which
is screwed fast upon the universal joint; then two screws being tapped through
the sides of the piece 7, press upon the end of s, and by forcing it either way
it adjusts the wheel with respect to the platten till they exactly correspond.
Another similar adjustment may be applied to the upper axis. The parts
the machine, except the frame and the feeding board, should be made of metal,
of

page_text: either iron, brass, or other metal, or the whole of the framing may be made of
cast-iron, and the small parts of wrought-iron, the wheels of brass or bell
metal. The ink cylinder and distributing roller M may be made of copper
or brass tube, covered with glue, so prepared as to lessen its tendency to become
hard by exposure to the air, or to become soft by the application of oil or
printing ink, and their quality is given to the glue by melting with it a quantity
of treacle, in the proportion of two parts of the latter to one part of the former
(both by weight), or more or less boiling the mixture and repeatedly trying a
portion of it when cold till we find that the requisite degree of elasticity has
been obtained. This composition is poured when hot into a mould in which the
said tube has been previously placed. This mould should be a cylindrical tube
of metal, and oiled inside, that the composition when cold may be more easily
seperate, and draw from the mould with the copper cylinder to which it
remains attached, forming a very correct and smooth cylinder of elastic
substance. To prevent or lessen the danger of this elastic substance seperating
itself from the tube upon which it is cast, this tube is previously covered with
canvass, cloth, or linen, (but we prefer the first.) This elastic cylinder is fixed
upon its spindle by 4 screws in the ends of the copper tube, and these pointing
to the center, as shewn in Fig. 3, give the means of adjusting the surface so as
to render it concentric. I have been the more particular in describing this
part of our Invention, because rollers for inking or intended for that purpose
have been before used by other people, or attempted to be used, but hitherto
we believe with less success than was desirable. It will, therefore, be under-
stood that I am not specifying the applicationof rollers as rollers to printing,
or the elastic material as a material, but the method which we have invented and
found to answer best for making inking rollers, namely, by casting or otherwise
forming in a mould such a mixture as has been mentioned, or any other mixture
or material fit for the purpose, and which method may be used to make inking
rollers for printing machines of other constructions.
We shall now describe the other mode of construction above alluded to, and
which admits of employing a cylinder for the platten in place of the curved
platten, above described. To accomplish this, it is only necessary that this
cylinder be made to adapt its movements below to that of the prism, as the
inkingcylinderdoes above in the construction before described. Its pivots should
be supported on bearings like the inking cylinder, or the bearings maybe adapted
to slide in grooves, so as always to have a tendency to rise upeither by the action
of springs or of weights acting upon levers. By increasing or diminishing these,
any required degree of pressure may be given. In this case the wheels D, E,
the spindle h, 1, and the universal joints may be omitted, and a circular cog
wheel being fitted upon the opposite end of the spindle of the platten cylinder,

page_text: and working in the toothed wheel V, will cause it to revolve regularly. There
should be wheels similar to S, S, fixed upon the axis I of the platten cylinder
to roll upon the under parts of the shapes T (or other similar to them) to
regulate the action when the machine has no paper or blanket passing through
it, but so. adjusted that they will not touch when the paper is printing.
Figure 6 is a section of a five-sided prism with the outline of the platten
proper for it represented in their relative proportions. It is perhaps proper to
state here, that for ascertaining the figures required for plattens applicable to
prisms of any number of sides we have no rule but repeated trials, nor is it of
much consequence, as we have ascertained that the cylindrical platten, before
described, is attended with less trouble in construction, and answers the purpose
equally well.
Having fully described our Invention, and given examples of the means by
which the same may be carried into effect, we scarcely need add, that the dif-
ferent parts of the construction, and modes of combination and action, admit of
great variety if the artificer never loses sight of the object intended to be gained,
inamely, so to dispose of pages or colums of types, blocks, or plates upon a
revolving axle as to form prisms of any required number of sides; secondly, so
eto adjust and give motion to the revolving piece which performs the office of the
platten that it may give equal and uniform pressure to the sheet passed through
the machine; and, lastly, to give the requisite movements to the inking appa-
ratus, of which the elastic moulded cylinders and the metal edge form essen-
tial parts.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Bryan Donkin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fourteen.
RRVAN (LS) DONKIN
Inrolled the same Twenty-third day of May, in the year above mentioned.