Mr. Napier's second improvement applies to the inking part of the printing machines. It consists of a series of rods, jointed and connected together in the manner of the system of rods which constitute the parallel motion of a steam engine; and these are applied to produce an alternating rectilinear motion to a frame carrying a set of inking rollers. This inking apparatus is suspended from a frame extending over the type forms; and it is equally applicable to printing machines on a large or small scale, whether actuated by steam or any other first mover.

The third improvement consists of a pair of pressure rollers for the purpose of pressing the sheets of paper after they have been printed, instead of using an hydraulic or screw-press, to give to printed paper the required degree of smoothness. The construction of Mr. Napier's rolling-press does not materially differ from the rolling-press applied to bookbinding a few years ago by Mr. William Burn, of Kirby-street, and which has now nearly superseded (in London at least) the laborious and uncertain processes of beating, formerly practised by bookbinders. The rollers of the press patented by Mr. Napier are placed horizontally, with respect to each other, while those of the press introduced by Mr. Burn occupy a vertical position.

The fourth invention described in this specification consists of a plan for equalizing the intermittent power of an alternating action, when applied to-produce continuous rotatory motion. The power is to be applied by a lever similar to a pump-handle, which turns freely on a fixed axis or fulcrum; at one extremity near this axis is a click or pall, which takes into the teeth of a small ratchet-wheel attached to the axis of a box containing a coiled spring, with one end fixed to the axis, and the other to the circumference of the containing box: to this box is fixed a toothed wheel, which takes into the teeth of a pinion, or on the axis or shaft, to be put into rotatory motion; and thus the alternating action of the lever, which is only employed in winding up the spring, is rendered efficacious in giving continuous rotatory motion to a pinion or spur-wheel, and hence to any system of machinery to which it may he applied.

A patent "for improvements in printing machines" was granted to R. Winch, of Shoe Lane, London, in 1831, which appear to us to be of importance, as they effect a considerable diminution of the quality of alternating matter, by which economy of power, and a saving of repairs are likely to result. The type form is made to rest stationary, while the inking-roilers are made to traverse forwards and backwards over it, receiving their supply from a ductor roller, and then passing over a distributing table, on which they have an end as well as a rotatory motion, that the ink may not accumulate upon them in ridges; and they deliver the ink upon the types both in passing forwards and backwards. The frisket is attached to a slight traversing frame, which is furnished with a series of tapes, on which the paper is laid, so that the tapes may come in contact only with the spaces between the pages. This frisket frame moves upon an iron railway, and having received a sheet of paper to be printed, it is run in till it comes over the types and under the platten, being preserved at a little distance from the types by spring supports; it is liberated by pieces projecting from the platten, and yields to the pressure of the platten when brought down to give the impression.

The frisket frame is furnished with conical steady pins, with small apertures in their tops for the reception of other steady pins, for regulating the register when the sheet of paper is reversed for completing. The motions of the various parts of this machine are produced in the order in which they are required through the medium of various levers, wheels, cams, and pulleys, possessing separately little novelty, but well arranged to effect in combination the different and somewhat complicated motions of the machine: these, however, we have not deemed necessary to detail at length, as different forms of them may be used without abandoning the principle of the invention.