CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE COPPER-PLATE PRESS
Year: 1803

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
KIRKWOOD, of Edinburgh, Engraver and Copper-plate Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-eighth day of
February, in the forty-third year of His reign, did give and grant unto me,
the said Robert Kirkwood, my executors, administrators, and assigns, His
special licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Robert Kirkwood, my executors, administrators, and assigns, 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,
my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE COPPER-PLATE PRESS;" in
which Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
Robert Kirkwood, under my hand and seal, to cause a particular descrip-
tion of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within four calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, relation being there-
unto had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Robert Kirkwood, do hereby declare, that my said Invention is described
in inanner following, that is to say :-

page_text: In the usual method of copper-plate printing, the paper on which the
impression is to be made being laid on the plate, and both laid upon
a plank, the whole are passed through between two cylinders, which
press on one another revolving on axes. In printing common work the
pressman passes the plate and paper through, and returns them to himself,
remaining in the same place for convenience. This mode of passing the
plate and impression twice through the cylinders often doubles the im-
pression, and always renders it coarse and obscure. For a more perfect
impression, the pressman passes the plate and paper only onco through,
that is, from himself to the other sido of the press, and then going round,
carries back the plate and impression to his former situation. This is called
printing through-press, and, requiring more time and trouble, is generally
charged double both by the journeyman and master.
My improvements are as follows, viz.-The circular form of the upper
cylinder is interrupted, broken or altered, by a part of it being in some degree
flattened, so that when all the remaining circular part of it in turning round
has borne on the plate, the flat part is then presented to the plate, which,
causing a vacuity, at the same time the upper cylinder being supported, the
pressure on the plank and plate is at an end, and they are returned by
machinery or the pressman to their former position, where he remains to
receivo them and repeat the operation. I add, when required, a movement
by clockwork, forming part of the press, for the purpose of numbering the
impressions. This movement is described by the annexed Drawing and
explanation, but any other apparatus producing the same effect may be
applied. The interruption or alteration of the circular form of the cylinder
is made on one or more parts of it, according to the size of the plate, or
different cylinders may be applied for different sized plates..
Another means of improving copper-plate printing presses is, to retain the
circular form of the upper cylinder, and make interruptions or alterations
on the lower cylinder, at the same time fixing two rollers or other support
for the plank to be drawn back upon, while unsupported by the lower
cylinder.
Another means of producing the desired effect is, to preserve the circular
form of the upper and under cylinders, and raise or suspend the upper
cylinder, or lower the under cylinder. by a lever on each side of the press;
or other mechanical contrivance, in order to allow the plank and plate to
return to the workman without passing twice through the cylinders, or
obliging the workman to go round the press, or reach over the upper roller
for his plate and impression, as is usual in printing through-press.

page_text: The annexed Drawing and reference will more fully exemplify the appli-
cation of my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-
eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and three.
EXPLANATION.
Fig. 1st, a perspective view of the press. -A, A, A, A, A, A, the circle of
the roller interrupted, which being supported permits. the plank to be drawn;
back after the circular part has borne on the paper and plate; B, B, the
lacing or fastening of the blankets, see Fig. 4; C, C, a. pulley and weight,
which draws back the plank when the interruption is presented to the paper
and plate after the circular part has completed the impression; D, D, a
rope (another of which is on the opposite side of the plank) which checks the
plank in bringing it to its former position, see Fig. 8d; E, a small roller
the width of the frame on which the plank runs when it is pulled back, see
Fig. 3d; F, a handle fixed to the plank, by which the pressman directs and
steadies the plank in returning it; G, an index for numbering the impressions
effected by the motion of the upper roller, which cannot be moved when the
motion of the press is reversed.
Fig. 2d, a side view of the press.-A, A, A, A, doted lines, represent the
two interruptions, same as A, A, Fig. 5th; H, H, support for the roller when
a flat side is presented to the plank; I, I, the circular parts of the roller
which press alternately on the paper and plate, and thereby make impressions
same as Fig. 5th; D, D, one of the check ropes described in Fig. 1st; E, the
small roller at the back of the press, as in Fig. 1st; F, the handle fixed to
the plank, as in Fig. 1st.
Fig 3d, a back view of the press.-K, K, space between the upper roller
and the plank, when one of the flat sides is presented to the plank; E, E, E,
the small roller affixed to the frame of the press on which the plank runs
when it is pulled back; L, L, brass sliding frame for ditto, to adjust it
to the proper height, see Fig. 6th; D, D, D, D, the two ropes which check
the plant.
Fig. 4th, the upper roller by itself.-I, I, the two circular parts, as de-
scribed in Fig. 2d; A, A, A, A, one of the flat sides; B, B, B, the lacing
or fastening of the blankets to the pins M, M, M; N, N, two points by

page_text: which the index is effected, see Fig. 7th. These points to be more or fewer
according to the number of interruptions in the circle of the roller.
Fig. 5th, an end view of the upper roller, described in Fig. 2d.
Fig. 6th, the two brass frames for small roller in Fig. 8d.
Fig. 7, the index.-O, O, the end of the axle of upper roller; N, N, the
two points fixed to ditto, which effect the index.
ROBT KIRKWOOD.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Twenty-eighth day of
June, in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Robert Kirkwood, by
the said Alexander Mitchell, by virtue of a Power of Attorney under the
hand and seal of the said Robert Kirkwood, dated the First day of June
instant, came before our Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Twenty-eighth day of June, in the year
above.