IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF COPPER AND OTHER PLATE AND. CYLINDER PRINTING, AND INKING AND WIPING AND POLISHING BY MACHINERY THE ENGRAVED PLATES AND CYLINDERS WHILST USED IN THE.PROCESS.
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Neale, of N° 49, Cumming. Street,
Pentonville, in the County of Middlesex, Engraver, and Copper
and other Plate Printer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PROCESS OF COPPER AND OTHER PLATE AND. CYLINDER PRINTING,
AND INKING AND WIPING AND POLISHING BY MACHINERY THE ENGRAVED
PLATES AND CYLINDERS WHILST USED IN THE.PROCESS.".
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Neale at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th January 1858.
I, ROBERT NEALE, of Number 49, Cumming Street, Pentonville, in
the County of Middlesex, Engraver, and Copper and other Plate. Printer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN COPPER AND OTHER PLATE PRINTING, AND INKING AND WIPEING" AND
POLISHING BY MACHINERY THE ENGRAVED PLATES AND CYLINDERS WHILST
USED IN THE PROCESS, to be as follows:→
The improvements in the process of copper and other plate and
cylinder printing which I have invented is, by the use of machinery
arranged and constructed according to the plans in the annexed Draw-

page_text: ings, Figures N° 1, and N° 2, respectively, adapted to each kind of
printing, that is to say, the Figure N° 1, to plate printing, and Figure
No 2, to cylinder printing, to enable plate and cylinder printers to take
impressions from engraved metal surfaces with a rapidity unattainable
by any known means at present adopted.
The forms of the machines I propose to effect the object in view will
be explained in the annexed Drawings, Figures Nº 1, and N° 2, but
other forms of machines may be used which may combine the essential
properties of the machines in Figures No 1, and N° 2, and to which my
Invention for inking and wipeing and polishing by machinery may be
applied.
Figure N° 1, represents a side elevation of a machine for plate
printing, the parts of which are as follows:-A, A, A, A, represents
one side of a cast frame, the other side being a duplicate. The
two sides are united by four bolts, which are made fast by the
nuttss a, a, a, a. B, represents a wheel, which it is intended to set in
motion by a band in the usual way, the band being passed over a drum
which may receive its motion from a steam engine, or any other con-
venient mechanical power. This band is represented by b, b. Small
machines may be worked by a crank and manuel power. Upon the
axis of the band wheel B, is fixed a pinion, which gears into and
gives motion to the great spur wheel C. The great spur wheel C, is
fixed on one of the axis c. This wheel gives motion to the lower
roller D, and likewise to the toothed wheel E, which is also fixed on
the same axis inside of the frame A, A, A, A; it also gives motion to
the small spur wheel F, fixed on the same axis inside the great wheel
C. G, G, is an endless revolveing chain or belt which gears into and
receives its motion from the toothed wheel E, and both move in the
direction of the darts. H, H, H, represents, in different positions, the
side or edge view of the iron bed or plank, with a box to hold a hot
iron heater to warm the engraved plate. The iron bed or plank is
fastened to the revolving chain, and revolves with it. I, the cleet
fastened on one end of the iron bed; K, the slide, which is moveable
to suit plates of various sizes. L, is the engraved plate with the upper
edges bevilled. The lower or under edge of one side of the cleet, and

page_text: the lower or under edge of one side of the moveable slide, are bevilled
so as to lap over the beviled edges of the engraved plate, and hold it
fast to the iron bed or plank. A screw at one end of the slide secures
it firmly to any part of the iron bed at which it may be required to hold
the plate. M, represents the upper roller. N, is the screw used in
the usual manner to elevate and depress the upper roller, so as to increase
or diminih the pressure on the plate. O, represents the table which
holds the frisket. P, is the frisket on which each sheet of paper is
placed just previous to being printed. Q, represents the blankets, with
the frisket attached. q, is the drum over which the blankets pass.
r, is the weight attatched to the blankets to bring the blankets back to
their original position.
When the iron bed or plank containing the engraved plate passes
under the upper roller to receive the pressure and give the impression,
the blankets and frisket pass under the roller with the plate at the same
time.
The spur wheel R, gears into and recives its motion from the great
spur wheel C. On the axis of the spur wheel R, is a pinion which
gears into and gives motion to the spur wheel S. The spur wheel S,
gears into and gives motion to the spur wheel T; and the spur wheel T,
gears into and gives motion to the two small spur wheels U, U, and
the lower inking rollers which are fixed on the same axis with them.
The lower inking rollers form one side of the ink troughs. W, W,
represent the ink troughs with regulateing screws attatched. Each ink.
trough may contain ink or colouring matter of one or more colors,
with partitions to divide and keep apart each color from the other.
The bottom of each ink trough presents a straight edge to each lower
ink roller, and the quantity of ink supplied to each ink roller may be
regulated by the screws more or less pressing each ink trough to or
from cach lower ink roller. X, X, X, X, represent the upper ink.
rollers, which move in spaces formed for the purpose in the iron frame.
A, A, A, A. The upper inking roller inks the engraved plate; it is
made of soft cloth placed on an iron shaft, and afterwards turned in a
lathe to be rendered true. Y, Y, are levers which elevate the inking.

page_text: rollers at each revolution of the plate. Z, Z, represent moveable
stencils.
.
By the combined operetion of the moveable stencils with the upper
inking, rollers a variety of colors may be printed from the same plate
at the same time. By this process landscape engraveings may be
printed with one or more dark colors suitable for, the foreground,
and one or more light colors suitable for the distance and sky.
Engraved portraits may also be printed in one color, and the back-
ground or border may be printed in another color at the same time.
The pinion on the axis of the spur wheel R, gears into and gives
motion to the spur S. Upon the axis of the spur wheel S, is a drum c,.
the revolveing wiper or belt. f, is a roller soft
and elastic to the touch. g; g, is the revolveing wiper or belt which
passes over the roller f, and the drum e, and moves in the direction of
the darts. -
which gives motion to
This wiper or belt is made of leather or other suitable material, and
it may be lined with flannel or other soft fabric to make it soft and
clastic to the touch.. It is intended that the said revolveing wiper shall
wipe off the cheif portion of ink or coloring matter from the plates
and cylinders, and also that it shall be cleaned free from ink or coloring
matter by means of a scraper pressed against it, as shewn at h; it
may also be further cleaned by bringing a moveable belt of cotton
sheeting in contact with it. The ink scraped off the belt may be saved
and supplied for future use.
i, i, are the circular revolveing wipers and polishers, with a pinion or
small spur wheel fixed near one end of each axis. The spur wheel k,
gears: into and receives its motion from the spur wheel F. It also
gears into and gives motion to the two small small spur wheels which
move the circular revolveing wipers and polishers. 1, 1, are two screws
fastened on the frames A, A, A, A, and are cured or bent to corres-
pond with a part of the circumference of the same circle as the spur
wheel k; m, m, bearings in which. the end of the axis of each circular
wiper and polisher work; the said bearings have a hole through them
to receive the curved screws.
n, n, are the nutts on the curved screws

page_text: on each side of the bearings, which regulate to the greatest nicety
the degree of pressure against the plate given by the circular revolve-
ing wipers and polishers; the pressure may be so slight as barely to
touch the engraved plate; or it may be great when required. The
said wipers and polishers may be made with an iron shaft in a small
wooden roller, with soft flannel or cotton wadding wound round to make
them soft and elastic to the toutch, and covered with leather or other
suitable material. 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, are guide .rollers, over which the
moveable broad belt of cotton sheeting passes, and leads to wand over
a drumi p, which gives motion to the belt in the direction of the darts.
9, 9, 4, 7, represents the said moveable belt: of cotton sheeting or other
suitable material. The office of this belt is to move in contact with:
the wipers and polishers, to cleanse them from ink or coloring matter
used. Instead of the said cotton sheeting being endless and revolveing
on a drum, as shown in Figures No. 1, and No 2, it may be of any length,
with two ends, and pass in contact with the wipers and polishers froin
one roller to another, by machinery arranged in any convenient way.
Upon the axis of the spur wheel R, is a small band wheel, over which
a band is passed and receives its motion; the same band also passes
over the drum p, in a crossed position, and gives motion to the drum.
Figure No, represents a side elevation of a machine for cylinder
printing, the same letters.of reference being used upon the same parts
as those on Figure No 1. The large spur wheel C, gears into and
works the inking rollers U, U. The cylinder or lower roller D, is the
samc diameter as the great spur wheel.C. The dotted line on the
cylinder D, indicates the section of a cylinder.
It will easily be perceived that either sections of cylinders, or entire
cylinders of various dimensions, may be printed on machines; of the
same or similar form as the one represented in Figure N° 2; also that
engraved plates of various sizes may curved or bent to correspond with
a part of the circumference of the sections of cylinders, and may be held.
fast by means of the cleet and the moveable slide, as described in Figure
No 1; that is to say, a cleet with the lower or under side of one edge
beviled may be fastened to one end of the section of a cylinder, and the
moveable slide-fitted at each end to the rim of the section of a cylinder

page_text: with the lower edge of one side beviled so as to lap over the edges of
the engraved plate and hold it fast.
The moveable stencils are applicable to cylinders and sections of
cylinders, and will be particularly described and represented in a Com-
plete Specification; they are not represented in Fig. No 2, lest the view
of other parts should thereby be rendered indistinct.
In addition to the advantages of my iniprovements herein-before
stated with respect to rapidity of operations, I may add that of the
application of machinery and the use of moveable wipers and polishers
to inking and wipeing and polishing engraved plates and cylinders
whilst used in the process; and that of the mode of cleaning the belt
and saveing the ink and coloring inatter hercin-before set forth, as also
the use of the soft wipers and polishers in my process, instead of the
means at present adopted in plate and cylinder printing, and the
consequent saveing of expense in the diminution in the wear of the
engraved plates and cylinders, all of which I believe to be noveltics.
My improvements are applicable to plate and cylinder printing on
other fabrics as well as on paper.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Neale in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th July 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ROBERT NEALE, of No. 49,.Cumming Street, Pentonville, in the County
of Middlesex, Engraver and Copper and other Plate Printer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Robert Neale, Her special licence that I,
the said Robert Neale, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Robert Neale, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term 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 THE PROCESS OF COPPER AND OTHER PLATE
AND CYLINDER PRINTING, AND INKING AND WIPING AND POLISHING BY MA-
CHINERY THE ENGRAVED PLATES AND CYLINDERS WHILST USED IN THE PRO-
CESS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Neale,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and scal, 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 Robert Neale, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof (that is to say):
The improvements in the process of copper and other plate and
cylinder printing is by the use of machinery arranged and constructed
according to the plans in the annexed Drawings, Figures Nº 1, and
No 2, respectively adapted to each kind of printing, that is to say,
the Figure No 1, to plate printing, and the Figure N° 2, to cylinder
printing, to enable plate and cylinder printers to take impressions from
engraved metal surfaces with a rapidity unattainable by any known
means at present adopted.
The forms of the machines by which I effect the objects in view will
be understood by reference to the annexed Drawings, Figures N° 1,
and No 2, but other forms of machines may be used which may com-
bine the essential properties of the machines in Figures Nº 1, and N° 2,
and to which my Invention for inking and wiping and polishing by
machinery may be applied.
Figure No 1, represents a side elevation of the machine for plate
printing, the parts of which are as follows:-A, A, A, A, represents
one side of a cast iron frame, the other side being a duplicate. The
two sides are united by four bolts, which are made fast by the nuts

page_text: át a, a, a, a. B, represents a wheel, which is set in motion by a band.
in the usual way, the band being passed over drum which may
receive its motion from a steam engine, or any other convenient
mechanical power. This band is indicated by the letters b, b. Or
small machines may be worked by a crank and manual power.
Upon the axis of the band wheel B, is fixed a pinion which gears
into and gives motion to the great spur wheel C. The great spur
wheel is fixed on one end of the axis c. This wheel gives motion to
the lower roller D, and likewise to the toothed wheel -E, whichi is also
fixed on the same axis inside of the frame A, A, A; A; it also gives
motion to the small spur wheel F, fixed on the same axis inside the
great spur wheel C. G, G, is an endless revolving chain or belt, which
gears into and receives its motion from the toothed "wheel E, and both
move in the direction of the darts. H, represents the side or edge
view of tlic iron bed or plank, with a box to hold a hot iron heater to
warm the engraved 'plate. The iron bed or plank is fastened to the
revolving chain, and revolves with it, I, the cleat, fastened on. oue
end of the iron bed. K; the slide, which is inoveable to suit plates of
various sizes. L, the engraved plate, with the upper edges "bevilled.
The lower or under edge of one-side of the cleat, and the lower or
under edge of one side of the moveable slide, are bevilled. so as to lap
over the bevilled edges of the engraved plate, and hold fast to the iron
bed or plank. A screw at one end of the slide secures it firmly to any
part of the iron bed at which it may be required to hold the plate.
M, represents the upper roller, and it has a spring at. each end to
support it. N, is the screw, used in the usual manner to elevate and
depress the upper roller, so as to encrease or diminish the pressure on
the plate. O, represents the table which holds the frisket. P; is the
frisket, on which each sheet of paper is placed just previous: to its
being printed. The frisket is of leather or other flexible material, with
an opening or openings through according to the work. Q, represents
the blankets with the frisket attached q, is the drum, over which the
blankets pass. r, is the weight attached to the blankets to bring 'the
blankets back to their original position. .3
'When the iron bed or Splank containing the engraved-plate-passes

page_text: under the upper roller to receive the pressure and give the impression,
the blankets and frisket pass under the roller with the plate at the
same time.
The spur wheel R, gears into and receives its motion from the great
spur wheel C. On the axis of the spur wheel R, is a pinion which
gears into and gives motion to the spur wheel S. The spur wheel S,
gears into and gives motion to the spur wheel T; and the spur wheel
T, gears into and gives motion to the two small spur wheels U, U, and
the lower inking rollers, which are fixed on the same axis with them.
The ink rollers form one side of the ink troughs. W, W, represent the
ink troughs with regulating screws attached. Each ink trough may
contain ink or coloring matter of one or more colors, with partitions to
divide and keep apart the color from the other. The bottom of
each ink trough presents a straight edge to each lower ink roller, and
the quantity of ink supplied to each ink roller may be regulated by
the screws more or less pressing each ink trough to or from each
lower inking -roller. X, X, X, X, represent the upper inking rollers,
which move in spaces formed for the purpose in the iron frame
A, A, A, A. The upper inking roller inks the engraved plate; it is
made of pieces of soft cloth placed on an iron shaft, and afterwards.
turned in a lathe to be rendered true. Y, Y, are levers which elevate
the inking rollers to the engraved plate at each revolution of the plate.
ZZ, represent moveable stencils, which register correctly, and move
and work in connection with the upper inking rollers; they pass between
the upper inking rollers and the engraved plate. d, is the weight to
bring the stencils back to their original position. The stencils may be
made of thin sheet brass or other suitable material, with forms and
designs cut in them corresponding with forms and. designs on the
engraved plate.
By the combined operation of the moveable stencils with the upper
inking rollers a variety of colors may be printed from the same plate
at the same time. By this process landscape engravings may be
printed with one or more dark colors suitable for the foreground, and
one or more light colors suitable for the distance and sky. Engraved
portraits may also be printed in one color, and. the back ground or.
border may be printed in another color at the same time.

page_text: The pinion on the axis of the spur wheel R, gears into and gives
motion to the spur wheel S. Upon the axis of the spur wheel S, is a
drum e, which gives motion to the revolving wiper or belt. f; is a roller
soft and clastic to the touch. 9, 9, is the revolving wiper or belt,
which passes over the roller f, and the drum c, and moves in the
direction of the darts. This wiper or belt is made of leather or other.
suitable material, and it may be lined with flannel or other soft fabric
to make it soft and elastic to the touch. It is intended that the said
revolving wiper shall wipe off the chief portion of ink or colouring
matter from the plates and cylinders, and also that it shall be cleaned
free from ink or coloring matter by means of a scraper pressed against
it, as shewn at h, or in any other suitable position to effect the same
object; it may also be further cleaned by bringing a moveable belt of
cotton sheeting in contact with it. The ink scraped off the belt may
be saved and supplied for future use.
i, i, are the circular revolving wipers and polishers with a pinion or
small spur wheel fixed near one end of each axis. The spur wheel K.,
gears into and receives its motion from the spur wheel F; it also
gears into and gives motion to the two small spur wheels which move
the circular revolving wipers and polishers. 1, 1, are arms fastened on
the frame A, A, A, A; they are curved or bent to correspond with a
part of the circumference of the same circle as the spur wheel K.
m, m, are bearings in which the ends of the axes of the circular wipers
and polishers work; the said bearings have each a hole through to
receive the curved arms; thus they are enabled to slide on the curved
arms, and they may be retained in any position on these arms by
having inclined teeth formed on each of such arms into which the
thread of a screw carried by the sliding bearing m, may take, and by
being turned cause the slide to be moved to any part of the arm and
be retained there, by which will be regulated to the greatest nicety the
degree of pressure against the plate given by the circular revolving
wipers and polishers; the pressure may be so slight as barely to
touch the engraved plate, or it may be great when required. The
said wipers and polishers may be made with an iron shaft in a small
wooden roller, with soft flannel or cotton wadding wound round to
make them soft and elastic to the touch, and covered with leather or

page_text: other suitable material. 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, are guide rollers, over which the
moveable broad belt of cotton sheeting passes, and leads to and over a
drum p, which gives motion to the belt in the direction of the darts.
4,917, represent the moveable belt of cotton sheeting or other
suitable material. The office of this belt is to move in contact with
the wipers and polishers, to cleanse them from ink or coloring matter
used. The tightness of the belt and the pressure against the wipers
may be regulated by clevating or depressing one of the guide rollers 'o,
which works in a bearing in a slot in two of the legs of the machine.
Instead of the said cotton sheeting belt being endless, and revolving
on a drum, as shewn in Figures N° 1; and N° 2, it may be of any
length, with two ends, and pass in contact with the wipers and polishers
from one roller to another by machinery arranged in any convenient
way. Upon the axis of the spur wheel R, is a small band wheel, over
which a band is passed and receives its motion; the same band also
passes over the drum p, in a crossed position, and gives motion to the
drum.
Figure No 2, represents a side elevation of a machine for cylinder
printing, the same letters of reference being used upon the same
parts as those on Figure No 1. The large spur wheel C, gears into
and works the two small spur wheels U, U, which are on the same
axis as the inking rollers X, X. The cylinder or lower roller D, is
the same diameter as the same spur wheel C. The dotted lines on
the cylinder D, indicates a section of a cylinder.
It will easily be perceived that either sections of cylinders, or
entire cylinders of various dimensions, can be printed on machines
of the same or similar form as the one represented in Figure N° 2;
also that engraved plates of various sizes may be bent or curved to
correspond with a part of the circumference of the sections of cylinders,
and may be held fast by means of the cleat, and the moveable slide, as
described in Figure N° 1, that is to say, a cleat with the lower or
under edge of one side bevilled may be fastened at one end of the
section of the cylinder, and the moveable slide fitted at each end to
the rim of the section of the cylinder, with the lower edge of one side
bevilled so as to lap over the bevilled edges of the engraved plate, and

page_text: hold it fast. The moveable stencils are applicable to cylinders, and
sections of cylinders; and the mode of applying the same is shewn at x,
in Figure 2.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
.manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that what
I. claim is, the combining apparatus herein. explained for inking,
wiping, and polishing engraved plates and cylinders used in copper
and other plate and cylinder printing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Neale, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
W. TONGUE.
ROBERT NEALE. (L.s.)