IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OE PRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES."
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTRES PATENT to John Cunningham, of Beith, in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, Card Perforater, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PREPARATION OE PRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Cunningham at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th September 1854.
I, JOHN CUNNINGHAM, of Beith, in the County of Ayr, North Britain, Card
Perforater, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PREPARATION OR PRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES" to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements upon an Invention for
which Mr. James Balie Graham has obtained British Letters Patent, bearing
date the 6th day of February 1854, and also to certain improvements which I
have recently applied for British Letters Patent. The improvements upon
Mr. Graham's Invention consist, in the first place, in causing rows of pins or
types to stand up above the general level along the borders or edges of the
built-up mass of pins or types used in producing the printing surface, so that
the cast which is taken off the surface of the types may have its edges defined
and shaped by such raised rows, in order that two or more casts of the same

page_text: or of different patterns may fit into each other with accuracy. This is effected
by depressing the body of the types slightly below the types at the extreme
edges; thus, if types of an hexagonal section are used, the edges of the casts
will be indented, so that they will lock into each other when fitted together.
Another improvement consists in making the pattern type of two or more
kinds of metal, or so as to present different appearances to the eye, as well as
in arranging these in squares or in regular compartments of any convenient
form, each compartment being made up of types of one kind. This arrange-
ment is for facilitating the reading off and transferring the pattern from the
original design to the block of types, and the paper pattern is to be ruled to
correspond to the types, or the pattern is to be drawn upon paper suitably
lined for the purpose, stronger lines or any other mode being employed to
mark compartments to correspond to the compartments formed by the different
kinds of pins.
A third improvement relates to the-modo of taking a cast off the surface of
the type after certain of the types have been depressed to form the pattern.
For this purpose, two plates of peculiar construction are fitted
upon
that sido
of the frame upon which the metal or other material for forming the actual
printing surface is to be cast; these plates are made to draw apart, and are so
constructed as to leave a winding zig-zag or other shaped groove along their
meeting edges immediately over the mass of pattern types. One of the plates
may be of smaller size, the two being made to fit accurately together by means
of wedge or dovetail grooves and by pins placed at suitable points. Suitable
arrangements are made for introducing melted metal for forming the casting
at the back of these plates, the metal finding its way through the zig-zag or
other shaped groove to the surface of the pattern types, and the casting pro-
duced will have a feather upon its back corresponding to the groove; the edges
of the plates which form the groove are bevilled, so as to make the feather
thicker at the outer edge, which enables the plates to take a firm hold of the
casting, and this casting is forced off the face of the types by means of screws
working in the plates or otherwise. The arrangements I prefer for introducing
the melted metal at the back of the plates just described, and which may be
termed the "feather plates," consist in fixing a plate on the back of these
plates, this plate being formed with a cavity in which a thinner plate is fitted.
A groove or channel is formed between the thinner plate and the back plate,
through which the melted metal is poured from one side, the whole frame
being set on edge to bring this side uppermost. The frame being set in this
position, the melted metal finds its way down the channel between the hind-

page_text: most plates, and passes through a slit formed by cutting away a portion of the
bottom of the thinner plate to the back of the groove in the feather plates,
and fills these, and covers the face of the pattern types, as already described.
It is preferred to cause the melted metal to enter upon the face of the pattern
types at the lower side for the time being, so that in filling up the matrix it
gradually rises upwards, expelling the air before it, this mode insuring the
more certain filling-up with metal of the intricate and minute spaces consti-
tuting the pattern. Before pouring in the melted metal to form the casting,
the frame or matrix is heated, so as to prevent the two rapid cooling of the
melted metal.
A fourth improvement consists in applying the matrix of pattern types to
the production of indented metallic or other surfaces resembling engraved
surfaces. For this purpose the types are engraved with fine lines or any device
on the surface of one end, and the pattern being produced by causing certain
of the engraved types to stand up from the general level of the types, this
being done by depressing these types from the other side, or otherwise. Metal
is cast upon the opposite side, so as to prevent the raised types from sinking
when pressure is applied. The matrix thus formed into a solid block is used
as a die for indenting metallic or other surfaces by means of great pressure,
this being effected in suitable apparatus, such as is in use for a similar purpose,
and it will be obvious to the practical man that these blocks may be employed
for indenting either rollers or level surfaces.
The improvements upon the Invention for which I have recently applied
for Letters Patent refer more particularly to the apparatus for marking or
setting out patterns upon wooden rollers or surfaces, or on surfaces of other
suitable material, by means of prickers, actuated by contrivances similar to
those in the well-known "piano jacquard card-cutting machine," and consist
in substituting for the said prickers, wire, which on being entered into the
wooden surface are cut, so as to leave short lengths in the wood to form the
actual printing surfaces. The mode by which these wires are depressed is
precisely the same as that for depressing the prickers, as described in the
Provisional Specification deposited with my earlier application for Letters
Patent, already herein-before referred to. The wires may either be supplied
in lengths, or they may be carried upon rollers and unwound therefrom by the
action of the apparatus as they are required, to supply the portions fixed into
the wooden surface. The wires which form the pattern are made to descend,
so as to carry their lower ends as far below the general line of wires as corre-
sponds to the length to be inserted into the wood; the whole of the wires are

page_text: then depressed with considerable force, and those which project enter the wood
cutters, thereupon cutting off as much of these wires as projects, leaving their
lower ends in a straight line with the rest of the wires, whilst the portions
fixed in the wood project from it just so much as is necessary for forming the
raised printing surface. The cutters are of such a form as to cut the wires
which remain in the wood square off, whilst the ends of the remainder of
the wire is bevilled or sharpened, so as to enter the wood with the greater
facility.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Cunningham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th March 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CUNNINGHAM, of Beith, in the County of Ayr, North Britain, Card Perforator,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Cunningham, Her special license that I, the said John Cunningham,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Cunningham, 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
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 PRE-
PARATION OF PRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Cunningham, by an instrument in writing
under my band and seal, 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 John Cunningham, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: 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 certain improvements upon an Invention for
which Mr. James Balie Graham has obtained British Letters Patent, bearing
date on or about the Sixth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-four; and also to certain improvements upon an Invention for which I
have obtained British Letters Patent, bearing date on or about the Fifth day
of August, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four. The improvements
upon Mr. Graham's Invention consist, in the first place, in causing rows of pins
or types to stand up above the general level along the borders or edges of the
built-up mass of pins or types used in producing the printing surface, so that
the cast which is taken off the surface of the types may have its edges defined
and shaped by such raised rows, in order that two or more casts of the same
or of different patterns may fit into each other with accuracy. This is effected
by depressing the body of the types slightly below the types at the extremo
edges; thus, if types of an hexagonal section are used, the edges of the casts
will be indented, so that they will lock into each other when fitted together.
Another improvement consists in making the pattern type of two or more
kinds of metal, or so as to present different appearances to the eye, as well as in
arranging these in squares or in regular compartments of any convenient form,
each compartment being made up of types of one kind. This arrangement is
for facilitating the reading off and transferring the pattern from the original
design to the block of types, and the paper pattern is to be ruled to correspond
to the types, or the pattern is to be drawn upon paper suitably lined for the
purpose, stronger lines or any other mode or contrivance being employed to
mark compartments to correspond to the compartments formed by the different
kinds of pins.
A third improvement relates to the mode of taking a cast off the surface
of the types after certain of the types have been depressed to form the
pattern. For this purpose, two plates of peculiar construction are fitted upon
that side of the frame upon which the metal or other material for forming the
actual printing surface is to be cast; these plates are made to draw apart,
and are so constructed as to leave a winding zig-zag or other shaped groove
along their meeting or junction edges immediately over the mass of pattern
types. One of the plates may be of smaller size, the two being made to fit
accurately together by means of wedge or dovetail grooves, and by pins placed
at suitable points. Suitable arrangements are made for introducing melted
metal for forming the casting at the back of these plates, the metal finding its

page_text: way through the zig-zag or other shaped groove to the surface of the pattern
types, and the casting produced will have a feather upon its back corresponding
to the groove. The edges of the plates which form the groove are bevilled, so
as to make the feather thicker at the outer edge, which enables the plates to
take a firm hold of the casting, and this casting is forced off the face of the types
by means of screws working in the plates or otherwise. The arrangements I
prefer for introducing the melted metal at the back of the plates just described,
and which may be termed the "feather plates," consist in fixing a plate on
the back of these plates, this plate being formed with a cavity, in which a
thinner plate is fitted. A groove or channel is formed between the thinner
plate and the back plate, through which the melted metal is poured from one
side, the whole frame being set on edge to bring this side uppermost. The
frame being set in this position, the melted metal finds its way down the
channel between the hindmost plates, and passes through a slit formed by
cutting away a portion of the bottom of the thinner plate to the back of the
grooves in the feather plates, and fills these, and covers the face of the pattern
types, as already described. It is preferred to cause the melted metal to enter
upon the face of the pattern types at the lower side for the time being, so that
in filling up the matrix it gradually rises upwards, expelling the air before it,
this mode insuring the more certain filling up with metal of the intricate and
minute spaces constituting the pattern. Before pouring in the melted meta!
to form the casting, the frame or matrix is heated, so as to prevent the too
rapid cooling of the melted metal.
A fourth improvement consists in applying the matrix of pattern types to
the production of indented metallic or other surfaces resembling engraved
surfaces. For this purpose the types are engraved with fine lines or any device
on the surface of one end, and the pattern having been produced by causing
certain of the engraved types to stand up from the general level of the types,
(this being done by depressing these types from the other side, or otherwise,)
metal is cast upon the opposite side, so as to prevent the raised types from
sinking when pressure is applied. The matrix thus formed into a solid block
is used as a die for indenting metallic or other surfaces by means of great
pressure, this being effected in suitable apparatus, such as is in use for a
sim lar purpose, and it will be obvious to the practical man that these blocks
may be employed for indenting either rollers or level surfaces. The improve-
ments upon the Invention for which I obtained British Letters Patent,
bearing date on or about the Fifth day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four, refer more particularly to the apparatus for marking

page_text: or setting out patterns upon wooden rollers or surfaces, or on surfaces of other
suitable material, by means of prickers, actuated by contrivances similar to
those adopted in the well-known "piano jacquard card-cutting machine,"
and consist in substituting for the said prickers, wires, which on being entered
into the wooden surface are cut, so as to leave short lengths in the wood to
form the actual printing surfaces. The mode by which these wires are
depressed is similar to that for depressing the prickers, as described in the
The
Specification of my earlier Patent, already herein-before referred to.
wires inay either be supplied in lengths, or they may be carried upon rollers
and unwound therefrom by the action of the apparatus as they are required, to
supply the cut-off portions fixed into the wooden surface. The wires which
form the pattern are made to descend, so as to carry their lower ends as far
below the general line of wires as corresponds to the length to be inserted into
the wood. The whole of the wires are then depressed with considerable force,
and those which project enter the wood, cutters thereupon cutting off as much
of such wires as projects, leaving their lower ends in a straight line with the
rest of the wires, whilst the portions fixed in the wood project from it just so
much as is necessary for forming the raised printing surface. The cutters are
of such a form as to cut the wires which remain in the wood square off, whilst
the ends of the remainder of the wire is bevilled or sharpened, so as when
afterwards depressed to enter the wood with the greater facility.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the explanatory Figures on the two Sheets of
Drawings hereunto attached.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a plan or face view of the matrix
frame, or the frame containing the built-up mass of pins or types, as used in
Mr. Graham's system, herein-before referred to, the frame being represented
as open, with the cover plates removed, to enable the operator to produce the
pattern in the matrix of pins by depressing such pins as are required.
Figure 2 is a face view of the pair of "feather" plates which are laid upon
the matrix, Figure 1. Figures 3 and 4 represent the plates which combine
to form the gate or entrance passage for the molten metal to be cast upon the
face of the matrix, Figure 1. Figure 5 is a vertical section through the matrix
frame, as completely closed up, and prepared to receive the molten metal for
forming the casting. Figure 6 is an external edge view of the matrix frame
complete; Figure 7 is a face view; Figure 8 is a transverso section; and
Figure 9 is an edge view of a casting, and forming the actual printing surface,
ás produced by means of the apparatus herein described. In working out this

page_text: system of producing printing surfaces I prefer to employ pins of hexagonal
cross section, such as are represented in the frame A, Figure 1. The pins arc,
however, here represented as of considerably greater dimensions than those
ordinarily adopted in actual practice by me, with the view of avoiding the
indistinctness which would attend a representation of the pins according to
their actual minute size. At the same time I would remark that pins of
various sizes and sections may be adopted in carrying out my Invention. Tho
pins are held in a strong metal frame A, by preference of a rectangular form
in plan, and they are tightened up against two adjacent sides B of this frame
by means of the side bars, indicated by dotted lines at C, respectively opposite
to the fixed sides B. The side bars C are checked into each other at the
corner D, in such a manner that whilst they can both be pressed inwards to
any necessary extent, they do not, when slackened off leave any opening at
the corner through which any of the pins can escape. The side bars C are
adjusted by means of the screws E, tapped through the sides of the frame A.
Before beginning to depress the pins constituting the pattern to be formed
in the matrix, rows F of pins are raised round the edges above the general
level of the mass of pins. This raising of the edges is effected by means
of strips G of metal, placed at the back of the pins, which are pressed
forward by the screwing on of the back plate H. These edge pins are
raised to an extent equal to the thickness to be given to the back I of the
casting (Figures 7, 8, and 9,) to be taken from the matrix, and they
cause the edges of the casting to have the indented outline represented in
Figure 7, which is of such a description that two or more castings will fit
together, so as to be incapable of sliding upon their contact edge surfaces.
The depth to which the pins are to be depressed is determined by the thick-
ness of the thin frame J, introduced between the frame A and the back plate
H, and this thickness obviously corresponds to that of the raised pattern
portion K of the casing taken from the matrix. Tho main body portions of
the pins are represented as arranged in squares L, M, of a uniform number
of pins each, to facilitate counting, the pins of the adjacent squares being of
different kinds of metal; or the pins may have fine lines engraved on their
end surfaces, the pins of one square having the lines running in a different
direction from the pins of another square, or the different squares of pins may
be distinguished in any convenient manner. The pins constituting the pattern
or device having all been depressed, as at N, Figures 1 and 5, the "feather"
plates P, Q, Figure 2, are placed upon the face of the matrix, Figure 1.
These plates P, Q, are formed to fit together like reversed combs, but so as to

page_text: leave a zig-zag opening R between such parts of the meeting edges of the
plates as cover the body of pins in the frame A. The plates P, Q, are made
to fit together accurately by pins S at the comb points of each. The object
of the groove R is to form a zig-zag feather, as at T, in Figures 8 and 9, on
the back of the casting I, and the sides of the groove Rare slightly bevilled,
so as to cause the feather to be a little thicker at its outer edge. This bevil
upon the feather enables the plates P, Q, to take a firm hold of the entire
surface, as it were, of the casting I, by means of the feathers, so as to lift the
casting off the surface of the pins. The separation of the casting from the
matrix is effected by forcing the plates P, Q, off the face of the frame A,
Figure 1, by means of screws or otherwise, and then the plates P, Q, are
drawn asunder, and leave the casting free. The plates U, V, represented in
Figures 3 and 4, form the gate or entrance passage for the molten metal, and
they are fixed outside the plates P, Q, when a casting is about to be made.
The plate U fits into a shallow recess W in the plate V, but its bottom edge
is so shaped at X as to leave a narrow slit or opening along the bottom edge
of the recess W. The recess W has a channel Y formed in it, and commu-
nicating at the bottom with the slit X, and the molten metal is poured in at
Z, Figure 5, finding its way down the channel Y at the back of the plate U
to the slit X. The molten metal then enters the bottom portions of the
feather groove R in the plates P, Q, and finds its way through to the surface
of the pin matrix. The frame A is placed vertically on edge, as represented
in Figures 5 and 6, when the casting is being taken, and the molten metal
enters upon the face of the matrix pins at the bottom, rising up gradually until
the mould space is filled, and in this manner allowing the air to escape before
it from the recesses formed by the depressed pins. A perfect casting is thus
insured without flaws or air bubbles, and the entire frame being heated pre-
viously to introducing the molten metal, the casting cools gradually and shrinks
uniformly.
Figure 1, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, is a vertical section, Figure 2 is a
back elevation, Figure 3 is a plan, and Figure 4 is a front elevation, of my
improved apparatus for setting-off, marking, or producing patterns upon rollers
or other surfaces of wood or other suitable material. The details of the appa-
ratus are carried by a cast-iron framing A, to which is bolted an arched bracket
B, passing over and across the frame to support portions of the depressing
mechanism. This bracket B has bolted upon it at its centre two guide cheeks
C, formed with vertical dovetailed grooves, in which slides the small metal
frame D. This frame is made to slide up and down by means of a lever E,

page_text: which oscillates on a centre pin, carried by the bracket B, and is jointed at its
back end to a rod F, passing down to a short lever G, upon a horizontal shaft
H, carried in bearings inside the framing. The shaft II has fast upon it a
pulley I, over which is passed a belt connected to a pair of treadles J. The
wires K, with which the pattern printing surface is to be formed upon the block
L below, pass down the face of the frame D, inside of guides M. These wires
may either be in convenient short lengths, fresh lengths being supplied as those
in the machine become used; or the wires may be coiled upon drums, being
given off gradually as required. The wires K are at slight distances apart at
the upper part of the frame D, but they gradually converge as they descend
thence, so as to be close together on entering the wood block. On the top of
the frame D there are a number of finger levers N in two sets of four each,
each set being arranged to vibrate on centres at one of the back corners of
the frame, and passing across towards the opposite front corner. The two sets
of finger levers are arranged at slightly different levels, so as not to interfere
with each other, and their front ends are bent and spread out, and forined with
flat button-like terminations, to be easily acted upon by the fingers of the
operator, who rests his hands upon the finger plate N' fixed upon the frame
D. Each finger lever N clips one of the wires K by means of a small spring,
and when any one of the finger levers is depressed, it draws down the corre-
sponding wire K, in readiness to be inserted in the wood block. A bent bar C',
which is fixed to the stationary guides C, passes under tho finger wires N, a
little in front of the wires K, and is so situated, as, on the descent of the frame D,
to lift any of the finger wires that may have been depressed. When this is being
effected, the wires K are held firm to the face of the frame D, and the clipping
springs of the finger wires N have not power to lift them, but slip over them
when rising. The operator, having his pattern before him, depresses such of
the finger levers N as correspond to the portion of the pattern upon which he is
at the moment engaged, and thereby draws down such wires as have to be
inserted into the wood block, making them project below the level of the other
wires, if any are left undepressed. These projecting wires are then forced
down into the wood by the descent of the frame D, as actuated by the treadles
J, in the manner already described. The wires K are held firmly to the face
of the frame D during its descent by the action of a lever claw O, the two
arms of which are held up by springs P, fixed to the bracket B. The claw
turns in centre eyes on the face of the frame D, and when this frame descends,
the fixed springs cause the front of the claw to press upon a small plate Q in
front of the wires K. When the wire is entered into the wood block, it is

page_text: cut by a pair of clippers, consisting of a cutter R, fixed to the under front
edge of the frame D, and a moveable cutter S, turning in eyes on the face
of the frame, and actuated by means of two arins T fixed to it, and passing
back, so as to be acted upon by a cross bar U, bolted to the fixed guides C.
Hence, as the frame descends, the arms T come in contact with the cross bar
U, and being thereby lifted up, cause the cutter S to clip off the wire against
the fixed cutter R. When the wires which have been entered into the wood
by the depression of the frame D are cut off in the manner described, tho
frame D is raised again by the action of the treadle in readiness for a fresh
stroke. The block of wood L is shifted between each descent of the frame D
to bring a fresh portion of its surface under the wires K. The block Lis
mounted upon a cast-iron plate V, which is fixed upon a rectangular frame W
by screws X at the four corners, these screws also serving as a means of
adjusting the level of the plate. The frame W is planed truly on the under
side of its front and back edges, which are of the cross section, indicated in
Figure 1, and fit upon transverse slides upon a frame Y, upon which slides the
frame W carrying the block can move from side to side. At the back of
the frame W is a small bar Z, furnished with a row of horizontal pins project-
ing on both its inner and outer sides. This bar is connected by two side pieces,
sliding in grooves in the sides of the frame W to a horizontal bar a in front
of the frame, by means of which bar a the operator can shift the bar Z to or
from the back of the frame. The bar Z lies between the forks of an escape-
ment piece b, to which a vertical movement is given at each transverse shift
of the frame W. This vertical movement of the escapement piece b allows the
bar Z to pass one tooth. When the frame W is going in one direction,
the bar Z is pushed back, and is acted upon by the escapement on the back
prong of the forked piece b; and when the frame is moving in the opposite
direction, the bar Z is drawn forward, so as to be acted upon by the
escapement on the front prong of the forked piece B. The escapement
is of a similar description to that in use in several machines requiring
such a contrivance. A pin of the rack presses against a fixed tooth
on the face of the escapement, and when the escapement descends, a
spring tooth enters behind the next pin in the rack, whilst the other pin
slips off the fixed tooth; and on the upward movement of the escapement,
the next pin which had been caught by the spring tooth is transferred
to the fixed tooth, and holds the rack stationary until the succeeding move-
ment of the escapement. The escapement piece b is made to descend by
means of a radial feather c, on a horizontal spindle, carried in bearings in the

page_text: 9
framing, the feather passing through a groove in the lower part of the piece b,
and being of sufficient length to suit the back and forward movement of the
frame W, which movement I shall bercin-after more particularly describe. A
cord or wire d is attached to the feather c, so as to pull the latter down, this
cord or wire being connected to a tongue jointed on the left foot treadle. On
the pressure of the foot being applied, the tension of the cord d is prevented
from drawing up the tongue too far by means of a tail, which comes in contact
with the treadle. The escapement piece b is raised by the action of a spring e
after each descent. The frame W is moved transversely by means of a weight f
the cord of which is wound upon a barrel fast on the horizontal shaft g, carried
in end bearings in the front and back frame pieces A of the machine. The
shaft carries upon it a tubular boss h, fitted to it with a groove and feather,
but capable of sliding longitudinally upon it, and this boss has formed or fixed
upon it a pinion or star wheel i, on cach side of which is a pulley j, k, both
loose upon the boss h. Each of the pulleys j, k, has a cord wound upon it, the
cord from one pulley going direct to a point of attachment on the frame W,
as indicated at 1, in Figure 4, so as to draw the frame in one direction, whilst
the cord from the other pulley passes over a small guide pulley at m, and
thence to a point of attachment to the frame W at n. Hence, the frame will
be drawn in either direction, accordingly as one or other of the pulleys j, k,
is put into gear. Each of these pulleys has one or more pins on its inner
face, so as to gear with and be driven by the wheel i when in juxtaposition
therewith. The pulleys j, k, are kept constantly at an equal distance apart,
and in the same position relatively to the frame Y by means of a bracket piece o,
bolted to the inside of that frame, and formed with projections, which enter
grooves in the enlarged bosses of the pulleys j, k. The wheel i is shifted into
gear with one or other of the pulleys j, k, by a longitudinal movement of
the boss h, effected by a lever p oscillating on a centre on the frame Y and
actuated by the bar Z, which last is itself shifted by hand, as already men-
tioned; by this means a single adjustment at once alters the direction of
transverse movement of the frame W, and puts into gear the proper escape-
ment for regulating that movement. When the cord is all unwound from the
driving barrel fast on the shaft g, it is wound up by hand by means of the
external pinions g, r, the former being on the end of the shaft 9 and the latter
on a stud pin, in a convenient position for the hand of the operator, who turns
it by means of a handle fixed on its face. Inside the star wheel i is a spring
and catch, working into a ratchet wheel fixed on the boss h, so as to allow of
the weight being wound up, in a manner similar to a common clock move-

page_text: ment. If necessary,
the transverse traverse of the frame W may be effected
by depressing the tongue on the left foot treadle, which will lower the escape-
ment 6 out of gear with the rack, and allow the frame W to be shifted forward
to any required position. Thus, if the line of pattern upon which the operator
is engaged contains a blank space of considerable extent, he can disengage the
escapement gear, and shift the frame at once across such blank space. It
remains now to describe the manner of effecting the back and forward move-
ment of the wood block, so as to bring different transverse lines thereof into
the sphere of action of the depressing frame D. The frame Y, upon which the
frame W slides transversely, is fitted upon V slides 8, formed or fixed upon
the upper edges of the side frame pieces of the machine, and it is traversed
back and forward upon these slides by means of a horizontal screw shaft t,
carried in end bearings in the framing A of the machine, and working in a
nut u, fixed to or formed in the back transverse flange of the frame Y. The
screw shaft t is turned by means of a weight v, tho cord from which is wound
upon a pulley w upon the screw shaft. Attached to the pulley w is a star
wheel, inside which is a spring and catch in connection with a ratchet wheel
fixed on the screw spindle to allow the weight v to be wound up in a manner
similar to the arrangement on the feather shaft g. The pulley is acted upon
by a pinion, working in gear with the star wheel, and the spindle of the pinion
passing through the front framing has a crank handle fixed on it, to be acted
upon by the operator when required. The front end of the screw shaft pro-
jects through the frame A, and has fixed upon it a ratchet wheel x, to which
a lever detent y is adapted to be worked by hand. This detent is formed with
two catches, just out of line with each other, and at a distance from cach
other equal to half the distance between two of the teeth of the ratchet wheel x.
On shifting the lever, one catch passes off the face of the ratchet tooth, whilst
the other catch passes in front of the next ratchet tooth, allowing the wheel
to turn to the extent of half a tooth; a spring then shifts the detent back to
its former position, when the wheel again turns to the extent of half a tooth,
thus completing the shift of a tooth. The front end of the screw shaft is formed
with a squared termination to receive a handle, so that, on disengaging the
detent from the ratchet, the frame Y may be speedily shifted into any required
position. If it is a roller which is to be opened upon instead of the block L,
5 the plate V is removed from the frame W, and the roller is mounted in suitable
bearings which are fixed upon the frame. A worm wheel is fixed on the roller
end or spindle, and this wheel is driven by a worm, the spindle of which may
lie at any convenient angle. This spindle may be actuated by hand, or in any

page_text: convenient manner, and it may carry a ratchet wheel and detent, similar to
the ratchet wheel and detent x, y, adapted to the screw shaft t. The longitu-
dinal movement of the roller corresponds to the transverse movement of the
frame W, which remains as already herein-before described.
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
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention; but 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 arrangement and construction of machinery, apparatus, or
means to be used in the production of printing surfaces, as berein-before
described.
Second, the system or mode of arranging pin or type matrices for the pro-
duction of printing surfaces, so as to produce a casting with serrated or
indented edges, rendering it capable of fitting to and locking with other similar
castings, as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of making up pin or type matrices for the pro-
duction of printing surfaces of pins or types presenting different appearances
to the eye, such pins or types being arranged in regular compartments to
facilitate counting, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of forming the plates or covers which determine
the shape of the back of the casting taken from pin, sectional, or composite
matrices for producing printing surfaces with a dovetail groove or grooves, so
as to produce a dovetail feather or feathers on the back of the said casting, by
means of which feather or feathers a firm hold of the casting is obtained,
enabling it to be forced or taken off the face of the matrix types with facility,
as herein-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of arranging the gate or entrance channel for the
introduction of molten metal to the face of pin or type matrices for producing
printing surfaces, so that the molten metal shall first enter upon the face of
the pins or types at the bottom for the time being of such face, and then
gradually rise up, expelling the air before it from the minute and intricate 3
indentations or recesses constituting the pattern, as herein-before described.
Sixth, the system or mode of producing indented surfaces resembling
engraved surfaces, by means of pin or type matrices, which can be arranged or

page_text: set to different patterns, such matrices being converted into solid dies, so as
to be capable of being impressed upon the surface to be operated upon by
having metal cast into the recesses behind the projecting pins which form
the indentations, as herein-before described.
Seventh, the system or mode of producing raised printing surfaces upon
blocks or rollers of wood or other material by means of the machinery or
apparatus more particularly described in reference to Sheet 2 of the Drawings
hereuto attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Cunningham, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
JOHN CUNNINGHAM. (L.S.)