Wood's Inking Machine. 105 



Above this shaft, on a level with the form of type, is the distribu- 

 ting roller; upon the surface of which the ink is spread, and from 

 which it is taken by the inking roller, which rests upon it. 



The inking roller is supported by wheels at each end, upon which 

 it travels ; and is suspended in such a manner, that its pressure upon 

 the type may be regulated with the greatest nicety. A large or 

 small roller, or two small rollers may be used, if desired. 



Behind the distributing roller, is placed the ink fount or trough ; 

 in which is an accurately-ground iron roller, revolving in the ink, 

 which is allowed to flow upon its surface more or less freely, by 

 means of an adjusting scraper. 



Resting against the fount roller, is a small supply roller, which, 

 during the action of the machine, is raised against the distributing 

 roller, and communicates ink to it, which by the assistance of another 

 small roller on the opposite side, and of the inking roller on the top, 

 is spread thereon of a perfectly even and uniform thickness ; the dis- 

 tributing roller having a lateral or end motion, as well as a revolving 

 motion, to make the distribution more complete. In this manner a 

 much more perfect distribution is obtained, than in machines in which 

 the ink is directly communicated to the roller that passes over the 



type- 



At the back part, on a horizontal axis, (having in the middle a 

 moveable barrel, to which is suspended a weight, and to which is al- 

 so fastened one end of the strap before mentioned, attached to the 

 barrel on the shaft in front,) are two fly-wheels, of diameters corres- 

 ponding with the width of the table of the press ; having on the outer 

 side of each, a pivot, that runs in a slot or groove in a perpendicular 

 lever that works on a joint at the bottom of the machine, and on the 

 inner side, a small projection, by which a catch holds the wheel in 

 its proper position. 



To these levers, at the height of the inking roller, are attached, 

 by joints, horizontal arms that extend to it ; and which, by the vibra- 

 tory motion given to the levers by the action of the fly-wheels, move 

 it forward and backward over the form ; and by properly propor- 

 tioning the barrel on the axis of the fly-wheels, and that on the shaft 

 in front, the roller may be made to traverse the form, once, twice, 

 or oftener, as desired. 



This description will give a tolerably good idea of the general con- 

 struction of the machine, the operation of which is as follows ; — 



Vol. XXIII.— No. 1. 14 



