Improvements in Machine for Printing Floorcloth and similar material by Means of Flat Blocks, and for Embossing, Stamping, and Inlaying.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 13th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machine for Printing Floorcloth and similar
material by Means of Flat Blocks, and for Embossing, Stamping,
and Inlaying.
THOMAS DALE Engineer, 200 High Street Kirkcaldy Scotland do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
:-
My present invention consists in certain improvements on the invention for
which I obtained Letters Patent numbered 1210 dated 23 January 1890 &
entitled "Machine for Printing Floorcloth and similar material by Means of Flat
Blocks."
The objects of my improvements are to improve the mechanism of the various
parts of the machine namely
For actuating the valves of air cylinders I employ an auxiliary cylinder, the
motion of this auxiliary cylinder is controlled by a cataract cylinder and its valve
is worked by a tappet motion off some convenient part of machine. For reversing
the motion of air cylinder at half stroke when the blocks are taking colour from
the colour pads I employ a movable stop oscillating on a centre which is thrown
into gear when the pad is in below the block.
For actuating the pad motion I employ a quadrant or quadrants keyed upon one
of the horizontal shafts at the side of machine, the quadrant works into a pinion
having a ratchet connected with it and revolving freely upon a spindle, the spindle
is supported in journals attached to the moving frame the ratchet on pinion actuates
the spindle thro' a pawl fixed upon it, also upon spindle is fixed an eccentric or
eccentrics and these give motion to the arms which draw the pads in and out below
blocks.
For stopping the moving frames as they traverse the cloth 1 employ a bracket
or brackets fixed to under part of frames in the brackets are sliding bolts which
fit into notches in parts of the beams; to the lower ends of bolts is attached a lever
having a pin in the centre, this pin fits into a slot in the bracket & is held in
position by a spring; the free end of lever is drawn up as the block holder ascends,
by a projecting piece fixed on to it for the purpose, the bolt is there upon drawn
down and the moving frames traverse the bolt is then released and shoots up into
the notch above mentioned.
For traversing the frames I run them on wheels which are independent of the
spur wheels working in racks.
For the gearing, traversing moving frames, I employ a quadrant working in the
segment of a wheel as described in the Patent above mentioned, this segment is
attached to a clutch box containing a pawl & sliding sleeve. When the reversing
clutch or clutches between the bevel pinions, described in the original Patent, is
locked in passing from one pinion to the other the pawl in clutch box is not
required to drive the traversing gear, therefore at this point, the pawl catches only
the sliding sleeve, and the moving frames remain stationary, for the purpose of
making 2 impressions without traversing. For working the reversing clutches
I employ a lever attached to one of the oscillating shafts which, by means of a
connecting rod works a pawl & ratchet this drives a cam having in it a groove
of the proper shape, in this works the end of a lever, and this lever through a
spindle & forked lever at clutches determines, when the gearing driving moving
frame, shall reverse.
For hauling the cloth lengthways I employ a drum preferably covered with
carding wire, supported upon a shaft running in suitable journals,. round the

page_text: flanges at the ends of card roller works a chain or band having points upon it for
catching the cloth. To the shaft of card roller is fixed a disc, prepared to fit the
grips or catches actuated by an air cylinder.
The end of roll shaft is formed into a fixed piston and the air cylinder for
working catches slides upon it. To the cylinder are attached arms which as the
cylinder slides, throws the catches in or out of gear.
The catches slide in grooves attached to a quadrant revolving loosely upon
shaft, to the periphery of quadrant is attached a chain, attached in its turn to the
end of piston rod of hauling cylinder. The hauling cylinder is fixed to the
stationary framing.
"
A self acting valve regulates the admission & escape of air or steam to hauling
cylinder and this valve as well as the cylinder working the catches or brake blocks
are regulated by a cock, the opening & shutting of this cock is controlled by a
lever attached to the moving frame having in connection with it a trip gear worked
by hauling cylinder.
Or instead of having a cylinder and catches or brake blocks for moving the
disc on card roll, the quadrant may have a pawl which gears into a ratchet or
catch in the disc, and a stop may be provided to determine how far the disc shall
revolve.
To distribute the colour equally upon the pad I employ a colour pan or receiver
about the width of the pad, holes or slots are made in the botton part & these are
opened & closed by a sliding doctor having corresponding holes or slots made
in it a lever is attached to doctor & a regulating screw so that the quantity of
colour may be varied and the supply of colour stopped automatically when it is
not being distributed upon the pad; distributing rollers may be used in connection
with this arrangement.
For giving motion to the various parts of the machine I employ as an alternative
arrangement one cylinder set horizontally upon the moving frames this cylinder by
means of connecting rods is made to give motion to the block holder by means of
bell cranks and so may be made to work one or any number of blocks as desired,
the bell cranks may be fixed upon rocking shafts from which the traversing and
colour pad motions are taken.
Or as another alternative arrangement I dispense with the cylinders or cylinder,
& employ a shaft working in journals attached to frame, these journals may be
attached to the main framing of machine or to the moving frames, and the gearing
for driving the various parts of machine may slide upon the shaft, or if the shaft is
carried upon the moving frames & the gearing is attached thereto then the belt
driving same may be made to move with the machine. When the gearing of
moving frames slides upon the shaft then the shaft will be made to drive a crank
eccentric or cam; this eccentric by means of connecting rods and bell crank levers,
gives motion to the block slides and may by means of rocking shafts to which the
bell cranks are fixed give motion to the traversing and pad motions-but I prefer
when using the shaft instead of cylinders to drive the traverse & pad motions
independently of block motion by means of gearing from the said shaft.
To support the table or tables and the transverse beams above I employ a strong
framing, this framing may be made independent of the floor and building and may
be mounted upon wheels running on rails or otherwise, for moving the whole
machine about.
Dated this Thirteenth day of May 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Printing Floorcloth and similar
material by Means of Flat Blocks, and for Embossing, Stamping,
and Inlaying.
I, THOMAS DALE, of 200 High Street, Kirkcaldy, Scotland, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
My present invention consists in certain improvements on the invention for which
I obtained Letters Patent numbered 1210, A.D. 1890, and entitled "Machine for
Printing Floorcloth and similar material by Means of Flat Blocks."
The objects of iny improvements are to improve the mechanism of the various
parts of the machine.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect I have hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings in the several
figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference.
Figure 1 is a front elevation.
Figure 2 is a part elevation and part vertical section of the machine for printing
floorcloth and similar material.
The
Figure 3 shows the arrangement for stopping the moving frames.
For actuating the valves of air cylinder I employ an auxiliary cylinder 1.
motion of this auxiliary cylinder is controlled by a cataract cylinder 2, and its
valve is worked by a tappet motion 3 off some convenient part of machine. The
tappet motion reverses the valve at the top and bottom of the stroke. At each
alternate stroke when the block is being furnished with colour from the pad it is
necessary to reverse the motion of the piston at half stroke. For this purpose
employ a movable stop oscillating on a centre 5 which is thrown into gear when the
pad is in below the block 7.
The piston rod of the cylinder 1 is jointed to end of lever a and this lever works
the shaft upon which are fixed the levers giving motion to the valve spindles c.
The cataract cylinder 2 has a solid piston and a port communicating to both sides
of the piston. This port is opened and closed by a valve, and the speed at which
the piston moves is thereby regulated.
The tappet rod d has a fulcrum at e. One end is attached to valve rod of
cylinder 1; the other has in it an eye through which the rod f passes. This rod
is moved up or down by the arm g attached to block holder.
The movable stop 4 pivots upon a centre h, and when the pad is in below the
printing block the pad rests upon the pin i, forcing the lower end of the stop 4
outwards and the upper end inwards against the rod f. When the arm g therefore
descends it strikes the end of the stop 4, driving down the rod f to which the stop
is attached, and reversing the lever d.
When the pad is not under the printing block the arm g descends until it strikes
the stop j.
For actuating the pad motion I employ a quadrant 8 or quadrants keyed upon
one of the horizontal shafts at the side of machine. The quadrant works into a
pinion 9 having a ratchet connected with it and revolving freely upon a spindle.
The spindle is supported in journals attached to the moving/frame. The ratchet
on pinion actuates the spindle through a pawl 10 fixed upon/it; also upon spindle
is fixed an eccentric 11, or eccentrics. These give motion to the arms 12 which
draw the pads 6 in and out below blocks 7.
For traversing the frames I run them on wheels which may be independent of
the spur wheels working in racks.
For the gearing for traversing the moving frames I employ a quadrant 20 working

page_text: in the segment of a wheel 21, as described in the Patent above mentioned. This
segment is attached to a clutch-box 22 containing a pawl and sliding sleeve.
When the revolving clutch or clutches between the bevel pinions, described in the
original Patent is or are locked in passing from one pinion to the other the pawl
in clutch-box is not required to drive the traversing gear; therefore at this point
the pawl catches only the sliding sleeve, and the moving frames remain stationary,
for the purpose of making two impressions without traversing. For working the
reversing clutches I employ a lever 23 attached to one of the oscillating shafts,
which by means of a connecting rod 24 works a pawl or ratchet 25. This drives a
cam having in it a groove of the proper shape. In this works the end of a
lever 26, and this lever through a spindle 27 and forked lever at clutches 28
determines when the gearing driving moving frame shall reverse.
The clutches 28 slide upon the shaft upon which the rack pinions are fixed. The
direction in which this shaft revolves determines which way the moving frames
shall travel. The reversing gear for this shaft is of the usual type, having a
wheel gearing into two pinions 1. The pinions are loose upon the shaft, and
between them are the clutches 28 as seen in Figure 2A. The forked lever m
actuates this clutch 28, moving into gear with one pinion or the other, and being
itself attached to the shaft by means of a fixed feather in the shaft, drives the
shaft round in either direction according to the pinion with which it is in gear.
For stopping the moving frames as they traverse the cloth I employ a bracket 13
or brackets fixed to under part of frames. In the bracket are sliding bolts 14 which
fit into notches 15 in parts of the beams. To the lower ends of bolts is attached
a lever 16 having a pin in the centre. This pin fits into a slot 17 in the bracket
and is held in position by a spring 18. The free end of lever is drawn up, as the
block holder ascends, by a projecting piece 19 fixed on to it for the purpose. The
bolt is thereupon drawn down and the moving frames traverse. The bolt is then
released and shoots up into the notch above mentioned.
For hauling the cloth lengthwise I employ a drum preferably covered with
carding wire supported upon a shaft running in suitable journals. Round the
flanges at the ends of card roller works a chain 29 or band having points upon it
for catching the cloth. To the shaft of card roller is fixed a disc 30. The disc 30
has notches formed upon its circumference to receive a catch.
A quadrant 35 oscillates freely upon the drum shaft, and to it is attached a
chain 36 connected with the piston rod of the air cylinder 31. This quadrant is
provided with a pawl or catch 43 which engages with the notches in the disc when
the piston of the air cylinder is at the bottom. Upon air being admitted to the
under side of the piston, it ascends, carrying the drum round by means of the
quadrant 35 and disc 30 which is fixed to the drum shaft. Upon the air being
released from the under side of the piston the quadrant is brought back by means
of the spring 42 attached to the quadrant and sole plate.
The air is admitted to the cylinder 31 through a piston valve 38 which is worked
by opening and closing the cock 39. The cock is closed by an arm attached to the
block holder when the frames are at either side of the machine, when it is required
to haul the cloth in a longitudinal direction. The motion for working the cock
from the opposite side from which it is placed is communicated to it by means of a
rod. The cock is opened for admitting air to the cylinder 31 by an arm 40 fixed
to the piston rod acting on a trip gear 41 upon its arriving at the bottom of its
stroke.
To support the table or tables A' and the transverse beams A* above I employ a
strong framing. This framing A'A' may be made independent of the floor and
building and may be mounted upon wheels A running on rails A' or otherwise for
moving the whole machine about.
For embossing or stamping I use an embossed stamp in place of the usual
printing block.
For inlaying I use a block or punch having the pattern to be inlayed formed
upon it in place of the usual printing block, and I substitute for the colour-pad. a

page_text: die having the corresponding pattern cut through it. The method of inlaying with
this appliance is as follows. A sheet of canvas is passed through the machine over
the printing table intermittently by the same means as already described, and
upon the die above mentioned is placed a sheet of the material to be inlaid upon
the canvas. When by the motion of the machine this comes below the block or
punch, the latter descends and cuts out the pattern, carries it through the die, and
impresses it on the canvas. The punch then ascends and the die is drawn out and
is refurnished with a fresh sheet of material ready for another impression and so on
continuously.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In the machine above described for printing floorcloth and similar material by
means of flat blocks and for embossing, stamping and inlaying, the method of
actuating the air cylinder consisting of the auxiliary cylinder and tappet gear.
2. In a machine for printing floorcloth aud similar material by means of flat blocks
and for embossing, stamping and inlaying, the method of actuating the pad,
consisting of the quadrant, ratchet and eccentric, substantially as described.
3. In a machine for printing floorcloth and similar material by means of flat
blocks and for embossing, stamping and inlaying, the gearing for traversing the
moving frames consisting of the quadrant 20, clutch-box 22, and cam by which
motion is given to the moving frames at the proper times.
4. In a machine for printing floorcloth and similar material by means of flat
blocks and for embossing, stamping aud inlaying, the arrangement for stopping the
moving frames substantially as described.
5. In a machine for printing floorcloth and similar material by means of flat
blocks and for embossing, stamping and inlaying, the method of intermittently
hauling the cloth along by means of the disc and quadrant actuated by an air
cylinder substantially as described.
Dated the 13th day of February 1893.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.